Summary

Aim: From individual case observations the suspicionhad arisen, that after sclerotherapy more often developsa proximal or distal insufficiency of the guide veinsthan it would correspond to the spontaneous courseof primary varicosis (in the sense of damage of theconducting veins by sclerosing solution which reachesthe deep veins). This should be cleared as the mainquestion in the examination on hand (main hypothesis).Furthermore the following side hypotheses should bechecked: 1. After sclerotherapy of a primary varicosis itshould come earlier and more distinctively to a dilatationof the common femoral vein (dilatative deep phlebopa-thy)than after a surgical treatment or a purely conser-vativetreatment. 2. After sclerotherapy of varicose veinsit should more frequently come to complications thanat operative treatment or only conservative treatment.Patients: The observation time period was at least 12months, on average 46 months. The following groupswere formed: a) Patients in whom only a sclerotherapywas carried out (n = 66), b) Patients in whom onlya surgical treatment of the varices was carried out oroperation with following sclerotheray (n = 66),c) Control group: only compression therapy withstockings and general measures for vein disorders (n =66). Results: After sclerotherapy neither a valve incompe-tenceof the guide veins nor a dilatation of the commonfemoral vein kicked out quicker or more frequent than inthe comparison groups. The main hypothesis must be re-jectedtherefore. The complications were more frequentand more serious in the group with a surgical treatment.The appearing of deep venous leg thrombosis withfollowing pulmonary embolism in 2 patients of thecontrol group with merely conservative therapy showsthat varicosis can spontaneously lead to serious com-plications.Conclusion: The sclerotherapy is sufficientlysure and effective. This applies correspondingly to thesurgical treatment of varicosis. Guide vein damage by sclerotherapy? Course obser-vationsafter varices eliminating measures