Ultrasound in Varicose Vein Treatment

Diagnosis is a prerequisite for all treatment strategies. Duplex ultrasound is the best diagnostic tool for varicose veins for all expressions of the disease (Nicolaides Circulation 102:126–163, 2000). All types of intervention on varicose veins have their own special demands on ultrasound. Ultrasound-guided vein mapping on the skin is very helpful prior to saphenous stripping (See Sect. 12.1), and it is absolutely indispensible for CHIVA (See Sect. 12.2). In endovascular thermal therapies (See Sect. 12.3) or foam sclerotherapy of trunk veins (See Sect. 12.4), ultrasound is an essential part of the treatment process. The actual procedures will only be explained here in relation to ultrasound.