Varicose veins are a common disease

Here you will find important studies and guidelines on the topic

3. October 2014

Current German guideline for sclerotherapy of varicose veins

The German guideline for doctors on the treatment of varicose disease with sclerotherapy was drawn up by the German Society of Phlebology and takes into account the currently available scientific literature on the treatment of varicose veins.

One particularly important point determined in the guideline is that all types of varicose veins can be treated with sclerotherapy, from spider veins to side branch and trunk varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy is therefore the only method of treatment that can be used for varicose veins of all sizes. 

  • The guideline recommends micro-sclerotherapy as the treatment of first choice for spider veins and reticular veins, allowing improvement of more than 90% to be achieved.
  • Foam sclerotherapy is a good alternative to surgery for the elimination of varicose veins of side branch veins and perforating veins.
  • Foam sclerotherapy is also a good and effective treatment option for trunk varicose veins. The symptoms and quality of life improve after foam sclerotherapy in the same way as after surgery or thermal procedures (endovenous laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation).
  • Sclerotherapy is strongly recommended for recurrent varicose veins reappearing after surgery.

Rabe et al. Leitlinie: Sklerosierungsbehandlung der Varikose der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie. Phlebologie 2012;41:206-213

Author: Sophia Post