Exact Answer: At Least Two Weeks
Sclerotherapy refers to the procedure which is used to treat malformations in the blood vessels. It is also helpful in treating lymphatic system malformations. The therapy is mainly used in the case of children and younger adults. Sclerotherapy helps treat smaller varicose veins, spider veins, hydroceles, and hemorrhoids in adults.
Ultrasound is used to detect the underlying vein, which helps the doctor monitor and deliver the injection. Sclerotherapy under ultrasound guidance helps control reflux from two critical junctions, namely the sapheno-popliteal and saphenofemoral junctions. However, it is believed that sclerotherapy might not be an excellent option for veins with axial reflux.
How Long After Sclerotherapy To Wear Compressional Stockings?
Sclerotherapy has been in practice, for now, for more than one hundred fifty years. It is widely prevalent among medical practitioners for the treatment of varicose veins as well as spider veins. Foam sclerotherapy and ultrasonographic guidance are the latest inclusions in sclerotherapy techniques. Sclerotherapy was first attempted in 1682 by D Zollikofer of Switzerland in Switzerland itself when he injected acid into one of his veins to induce thrombus formation. After that, multiple attempts were made to understand the therapy more precisely its complications.
Sclerotherapy is a process in which unwanted veins are injected with a sclerosing solution that results in the shrinking of the target vein. After that, the target vein slowly dissolves, and the body naturally absorbs it as time passes by. Medical experts have categorized Sclerotherapy as a non-invasive procedure that is completed within ten minutes. Sclerotherapy has taken over the use of laser for the elimination of varicose leg veins and spider veins. Sclerotherapy closes the feeder veins that are responsible for the creation of spider veins.
Age Group Of Patient | Time For Wearing The Stockings |
Minor | One to two week |
Adult | At least two weeks |
Doctors suggest wearing bandages or compressed stockings because it maintains the compression on the veins after treatment. Minors should wear compressed stockings for one to two weeks post-surgery. In contrast, adults must make sure to use compressed stockings for at least two weeks. It is vital to follow the doctor’s guidelines as any negligence will lead to severe complications.
Why Wear Compressional Stockings After Sclerotherapy For That Long?
Sclerotherapy is a process that is needed to be carried out with a lot of precision. Sclerotherapy has several side effects. Most common side effects include pain, redness, bruising near the injected vein. One-third of the sclerotherapy patient observe the development of several branches of blood vessels near the injected vein. These vessels disappear on their own in a few days. In most cases, the patient starts feeling normal within two to six weeks and can start doing daily activities in four to five days.
It is essential to keep the leg moving as it helps prevents blood clotting. As a result, it is crucial to maintain the veins’ compression to help achieve the best results. After withdrawing the needle from the injecting area, the medical practitioner applies compression and massages the treated area. It allows the injected vessel to keep the blood out and disperses the solution. After finishing the work on a particular vein, the doctor moves to the next vein.
It is crucial to cooperate with the doctor as a small mistake might lead the injection to get injected in the wrong vein. The patient must take all the proper precautions after the treatment and should make sure to keep the leg moving so that the veins keep functioning normally. Various complications include allergic reactions, visual disturbances, skin necrosis, and a few others.
Conclusion
Overall, it can be concluded that Sclerotherapy helps malformations treatment of blood vessels that are mainly used to treat children and younger adults. The process helps in removing unwanted veins from the body. Sclerotherapy is not a very lengthy procedure and is completed within ten minutes.
On average, medical experts recommend wearing compressible stockings for at least two weeks after the treatment. Sclerotherapy helps prevent the clotting of blood. The process needs high precision, and the patient must follow the instructions of the doctor. The patient can resume daily activities after one week of the treatment.