Chemical Ablation

Sclerotherapy remains the primary treatment for small-vessel varicose disease of the lower limbs. These small vessels include telangiectasias, venulectasias, and reticular ectasias. Telangiectasias are flat red vessels smaller than 1 mm. Venulectasias are blue, sometimes raised noticeably above the skin surface, and smaller than 2 mm. Reticular veins have a blueish hue and are 2-4 mm in size.

Visual sclerotherapy, sometimes not covered by insurance if only cosmetic, refers to the process of injecting a sclerosant into target veins without the aid of ultrasonography, whereas duplexguided sclerotherapy (endovenous chemical ablation) is performed using duplex ultrasonography to guide the injections. The goal with sclerosant's is to "kill" the dysfunctional vein so to improve the efficiency of blood flow to the deeper venous system. More blood flows, more efficiently back to the heart. These exterior, small veins are considered unnecessary for best blood flow. And the goal is always, efficient and effective blood flow.