Variceal obliteration

The varices , also called sclerotherapy is a process for the treatment of varicose veins .

It is used to treat reticulated, thin varicose veins ( spider veins ) on the legs. Here a sclerosing agent or sclerosant (in Germany drug with the active ingredient polidocanol ) is injected into the vein. This therapy causes an artificial inflammation of the vascular inner wall in the veins, which leads to the veins sticking together and thus occluding. Well-sclerosed veins are permanently closed and are no longer available for blood flow. This improves the venous conditions in the leg, as the venous blood that has to be fed to the heart no longer sinks into defective veins. Immediately after the sclerotherapy, the puncture sites are glued and compression stockings are pulled over the treated leg. To ensure that the therapy is successful, the support stocking has to be worn continuously for the next 48 hours and only during the day (depending on the doctor's prescription). Larger varicose veins can be closed with the help of foam sclerotherapy. The sclerosing agent is mixed with air to create a fine-bubble foam. This has a larger surface than the liquid and is therefore more effective.

Also esophageal varices are sclerosed by injection or injections.

literature

• Vera Zylka-Menhorn: Therapy of venous diseases: "The scene is in motion". In: Deutsches Ärzteblatt . Vol. 102, No. 3, 2005, A-108 / B-88 / C-84.
• Erwin Biecker, Jörg Heller, Volker Schmitz, Frank Lammert, Tilman Sauerbruch: Efficient diagnosis and therapy of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Deutsches Ärzteblatt. Vol. 105, No. 5, 2008, pp. 85-93, doi : 10.3238 / arztebl.2008.0085 .

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !