Triple-lumen double-balloon catheter for foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein: critical review on preliminary results

Empty vein ablation (EVA) technique: an in-vivo animal model to assess the effects of sclerosing agent concentration and wall contact time on intima and media tunicae structure

BACKGROUND

Sclerotherapy is a cornerstone of the treatment of chronic venous disease, despite some technical aspects (e.g., sclerosant liquid agent concentration [SLAC] and contact time between sclerosant agent and vein wall [ctSA/VW]) to maximize outcomes remain an unsolved problem and a source of debate. An innovative three-balloon catheter has been developed to allow sclerotherapy in empty vein conditions (Empty Vein Ablation technique, EVA), revolutionizing the definition of SLAC and ctSA/VW. Aim of this experimental study is to analyze EVA effects on intima and media vessel tunicae using different SLAC and ctSA/VW in an in-vivo animal model.

METHODS

Two adult sheep were treated by EVA using jugular and common iliac vein axes (eight vein segments). Different SLAC (polidocanol 0.5% or 1%) and different ctSA/VW (3 or 5 minutes) were combined for testing residual circumferential intima percentage and media thickness after EVA.

RESULTS

Intact circumferential residual intima after the treatment was 21.3±4.9%, 18.2±7.4%, 15.7±2.4% and 8.9±2.0% using 0.5% (3 min), 0.5% (5 min), 1% (3 min) and 1% (5 min), respectively (R2=0.945; control sample: 97.6%). Media thickness after the treatment was 121.6±35.3 µm, 110.9±7.8 µm, 96.1±30.4 µm and 79.1±34.1 µm using 0.5% (3 min), 0.5% (5 min), 1% (3 min) and 1% (5 min), respectively (R2=0.990; control sample 125.7 µm). No significant modifications were detected analyzing the adventitia in all samples.

CONCLUSIONS

EVA proved to be effective in venous wall destruction even with a very low SLAC and ctSA/VW (0.5% in 3 minutes), in quite large caliber veins. Direct comparisons with foam/liquid sclerotherapy should be done to confirm therapeutic effectiveness of these results, despite EVA has provided a maximized and controlled SA/VW contact time and ratio.

Is catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy more effective than the usual foam sclerotherapy for treatment of the great saphenous vein?

Objective

This retrospective study presents the long-term results of catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein.

Method

From January 2003 to June 2017, 277 patients with varices and great saphenous vein incompetence were treated with echo-guided foam sclerotherapy. Forty-six patients were treated with long-catheters guided by foam sclerotherapy. Foaming was carried out with sodium-tetra-decyl-sulphate.

Results

Results were examined in the two groups: A (long-catheters) and B (other procedures). The median overall follow-up was 52.1 months. In the A-group, the complete occlusion rate was 34/46 pts (73.9%) and partial occlusion was 10/46 (21.7%). In the B-group, respectively, 130/231 (56.2%) and 90/231 (38.9%). Comparisons between groups were statistically significant (p = 0.023; p = 0.021). Failures involved, respectively, 2/46 (4.3%) and 11/231 (4.7%) with no statistical significance. The complication rates were similar in the two groups.

Conclusions

In this long-term experience (median follow-up exceeding four years), foam-guided sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein with a long-catheter turned out to be more effective than the usual foam-guided sclerotherapy.

Schaumsklerosierungstherapie

Die Anwendung von Aethoxysklerol® in aufgeschäumter Form ist in Deutschland seit 2009 als Behandlungsoption der Varikose zugelassen. Entsprechend der aktuellen Leitlinien ist sie grundsätzlich für alle Formen der Varikose geeignet. Besonders bewährt hat sie sich in der Behandlung der Seitenastvarikose und Perforantes sowie als nicht-operative Alternative bei der Stammvarikose. Voraussetzung für die Planung und Durchführung der Schaumsklerosierungstherapie ist neben Anamnese und klinischer Untersuchung eine sorgfältige Duplexsonographie am stehenden Patienten zur Erstellung eines Venenmappings. Ist die Indikation und Entscheidung zur Sklerosierungstherapie gefallen, so muss der Patient sorgfältig informiert werden und schriftlich der Behandlung zustimmen.

Für die Punktion der Varize sollte der Patient stehen oder sitzen, alternativ kann er bei gut sichtbaren Varizen oder duplexkontrollierter Direktpunktion auch liegen. Die Applikation des Sklerosierungsmittels sollte immer im Liegen erfolgen. Für die Schaumherstellung haben sich das Tessari- und das DSS-System bewährt. Nach der Injektion des Schaums sollten eine exzentrische Kompression, ein lokaler Kompressionsverband und anschließend eine Kompression mittels Kompressionsstrumpf erfolgen.

Die Nebenwirkungen der Schaumsklerosie-rung unterscheiden sich nicht wesentlich von denen der Flüssigsklerosierung. Zur Verlaufskontrolle eignet sich die Duplexsonographie.