Tratamiento estético de las várices mediante esclerosis y escleromicrocirugía

Objective: To analyze complications and results of sclerotherapy and scleromicrosurgery in the cosmetic varicose veins treatment applied on lower limbs. Method: We made a prospective, observational and non-at random study for patients submitted to sclerotherapy of varicose veins between January 2001 and January 2005. We chose polydocanol as a sclerosant and the French technique. The complementary surgical techniques were selective disconnections and phlebectomies. All complications were recorded and the final outcome was evaluated in aesthetic terms by both patient and clinician through a subjective rating scale. Results: A total of 114 patients were treated, 76 by means of pure sclerotherapy and 38 with microsurgery. All of them were female patients with a mean age of 41.7 years, 35% of whom had received contraceptive or replacement hormone therapy and another 32% had already been treated for varicose veins. The average number of sclerotherapy sessions was 5.2 (21 maximum). The most frequent complication was the presence of faint hyperpigmentation post-sclerosis (17%). Patients were re