ABSTRACT
Sclerotherapy is a long established method of treating varicose veins. It is currently used to obliterate veins ranging from less than 1 mm in diameter to over 10 mm. The first use of injection therapy was performed in 1840 with a solution of absolute alcohol.1 Since then a number of compounds have been used as sclerosants for the treatment of varicose veins and telangiectases. Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) is in widespread use at present. This is an anionic surface-active substance which was introduced more than half a century ago.2,3 A range of techniques of sclerotherapy have been published by different authors and have been in use with various modifications for many years.4-6 In general, these comprise injection of sclerosant into the vein followed by the application of compression bandaging. A recent Cochrane review was unable to conclude that any particular technique of injection or compression led to an advantage in outcome.7
