subject: An Overview On Affordable Sclerotherapy Treatment In India [print this page]
For international patients, Sclerotherapy treatment in India is offered at the best and quiet affordable prices. And, at prices which few, if any, other country can match. An added advantage has been that India has one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world. It is self sufficient in drug production and exports drugs to more than 180 countries. The privatization of the medicare sector has brought with it five star facilities and world-class treatments, including the Sclerotherapy treatment in India.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat blood vessels or blood vessel malformations (vascular malformations) and also those of the lymphatic system. A medicine is injected into the vessels, which makes them shrink. It is used for children and young adults with vascular or lymphatic malformations. In adults, sclerotherapy is often used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Sclerotherapy is one method, along with surgery, radiofrequency and laser ablation, for treatment of varicose veins and venous malformations. In ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy, ultrasound is used to visualize the underlying vein so the physician can deliver and monitor the injection. Sclerotherapy should be done under ultrasound guidance after venous abnormalities have been diagnosed with duplex ultrasound. Sclerotherapy under ultrasound guidance and using microfoam sclerosants has been shown to be effective in controlling reflux from the sapheno-femoral and sapheno-popliteal junctions. However, some authors believe that Sclerotherapy is not suitable for veins with reflux from the greater or lesser saphenous junction, or veins with axial reflux (above the knees)
What is the purpose of Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy in the legs is performed for several reasons. It is most often done to improve the appearance of the legs, and is accomplished by closing down spider veinssmall veins in the legs that have dilated under increased venous blood pressure. A spider vein is one type of telangiectasia, which is the medical term for a reddish-colored lesion produced by the permanent enlargement of the capillaries and other small blood vessels. The word telangiectasia comes from three Greek words that mean "end," "blood vessel," and "stretch out." In a spider vein, also called a "sunburst varicosity" there is a central reddish area that is visible to the eye because it lies close to the surface of the skin; smaller veins spread outward from it in the shape of a spider's legs. Spider veins may also appear in two other common patternsthey may look like tiny tree branches or like extra-fine separate lines. In addition to the cosmetic purposes Sclerotherapy serves, it is also performed to treat the soreness, aching, muscle fatigue, and leg cramps that often accompany small- or middle-sized varicose veins in the legs. It is not, however, used by itself to treat large varicose veins. Because Sclerotherapy is usually considered a cosmetic procedure, it is usually not covered by health insurance. People who are being treated for cramps and discomfort in their legs, however, should ask their insurance companies whether they are covered for Sclerotherapy. In 2001, the average cost of the procedure was $227. Sclerotherapy as a general treatment modality is also performed to treat hemorrhoids (swollen veins) in the esophagus.
How is Sclerotherapy performed?
Sclerotherapy is a typical outpatient treatment, the patient changes into a pair of shorts at the doctor's office and lies on an examination table. After cleansing the skin surface with an antiseptic, the doctor injects a sclerosing agent into the veins. This agent is eliminated when the skin is stretched tightly over the area with the other hand. The doctor first injects the larger veins in each area of the leg, then the smaller ones. In most cases, one injection is needed for every inch of spider vein; a typical treatment session will require five to 40 separate injections. No anesthetic is needed for Sclerotherapy, although the patient may feel a mild stinging or burning sensation at the injection site. The liquid sclerosing agents that are used most often to treat spider veins are polidocanol (aethoxysklerol), sodium tetradecyl sulfate, and saline solution at 11.7% concentration. Some practitioners prefer to use saline because it does not cause allergic reactions. The usual practice is to use the lowest concentration of the chemical that is still effective in closing the veins. A newer type of sclerosing agent is foam instead of a liquid chemical that is injected into the veins. The foam has several advantages: It makes better contact with the wall of the vein than a liquid sclerosing agent; it allows the use of smaller amounts of chemical; and its movement in the vein can be monitored on an ultrasound screen. Sclerosing foam has been shown to have a high success rate with a lower cost, and causes fewer major complications.
After all the veins in a specific area of the leg have been injected, the doctor covers the area with a cotton ball or pad and compression tape. The patient may be asked to wait in the office for 2030 minutes after the first treatment session to ensure that there is no hypersensitivity to the sclerosing chemicals. Most Sclerotherapy treatment sessions are short, lasting from 15 to 45 minutes. It is not unusual for patients to need a second treatment to completely eliminate the spider veins; however, it is necessary to wait four to six weeks between procedures.
Some conditions and disorders are considered contraindications for Sclerotherapy:
Pregnancy and lactation. Pregnant women are advised to postpone Sclerotherapy until at least three months after the baby is born, because some spider veins will fade by themselves after delivery. Nursing mothers should postpone Sclerotherapy until the baby is weaned because it is not yet known whether the chemicals used in Sclerotherapy may affect the mother's milk.
Diabetes.
A history of AIDS, hepatitis, syphilis, or other diseases that are carried in the blood.
Heart conditions.
High blood pressure, blood clotting disorders, and other disorders of the circulatory system.
Why choose India?
Sclerotherapy treatment in India is offered by experienced doctors who are trained abroad in developed nations like the USA/UK / Europe. The Indian physicians and surgeons are nationally recognized experts in performing Sclerotherapy procedures. The international patients who come to India for their Sclerotherapy treatment can also benefit from the rich Indian culture, they can take their time to know and explore the country and its rich culture. There are couples of world heritage places like The Taj in Agra and Red Fort in New Delhi. Also the foreign patients can enjoy some exotic beaches of Goa and Kerala and amidst all their beauty can come out of the post surgical trauma following various medical treatments and surgeries including the Sclerotherapy in India etc.
For more details on Sclerotherapy treatment in India visit us at www.indianhealthguru.com or mail your queries at contact@indianhealthguru.com or call us at: +91-9371136499, +91- 9860755000 (International) / + 1-415-599-2537 (USA) / +44-20-8133-2571 (UK)
What is the purpose of Sclerotherapy?
Why choose India?