Immediate and midterm complications of sclerotherapy: report of a prospective multicenter registry of 12,173 sclerotherapy sessions.

BACKGROUND: Growing interest in sclerotherapy has emphasized the need for complete knowledge of all aspects of this method.

OBJECTIVE: To precisely delineate the actual incidence of immediate and delayed untoward events of daily sclerotherapy.

METHODS: A multicenter prospective registry was established in 22 phlebology clinics to report their activity and complications.

RESULTS: During the study period, 12,173 sessions of sclerotherapy were carried out, 5,434 with liquid, 6,395 with foam, and 344 using both. Four thousand eighty-eight (33.9%) sessions were carried out with ultrasound guidance. Forty-nine incidents or accidents (0.4%) occurred, of which 12 were with liquid and 37 with foam. These were reported during the time of the study and an additional 1-month follow-up. Most numerous were 20 cases of visual disturbances (in 19 cases, foam or air block was used); all resolved shortly, without any after-effects. A femoral vein thrombosis was the only severe adverse event in this study.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that sclerotherapy is a safe technique.