Efficacy of Polidocanol Foam versus Liquid in Sclerotherapy of the Great Saphenous Vein: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial with a 2-year Follow-up

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the relative efficacy of polidocanol (Aetoxisclerol®, Kreussler, Germany) when used as a foam or liquid in the treatment of saphenous incompetence.Materials and methodsMulticentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial conducted in patients with incompetence of the great saphenous vein (GSV) with a truncal diameter of 4–8mm. The great saphenous vein was injected using a single injection 2–2.5ml of either 3% polidocanol or sclerosant foam containing one-fifth 3% polidocanol to four-fifths air (DSS technique). Clinical assessments and duplex ultrasound scanning were performed after 3 weeks and then every 6 months for 2 years. No re-injection was performed irrespective of the immediate result. The main outcome measure was elimination of GSV reflux.ResultsNinety-five patients participated in the study, 47 were randomised to the foam sclerosant group and 48 to the liquid group. No significant difference between the 2 groups was found regarding sex, age, height, weight and saphenous vein diameter. At 3 weeks, complete elimination of reflux was obtained in 17 of the 48 patients (35%) who received liquid sclerotherapy, versus 40 of the 47 subjects (85%) in the foam group (p