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How does the sclerosant work exactly? |
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The sclerosant we use is an FDA-approved medication, sodium tetradecylsulphate. It is a detergent like chemical which intentionally causes injury to the inner vein wall by precipitating the protein in the vein wall thus causing it to collapse and heal shut. This injury occurs in a controlled manner, depending on the volume and concentration of the medication used in each site. The medication is inactivated quickly by dilutional effect and interaction with structural components of the vein wall, making the effect localized. It has no systemic effect. The initial injury to the vein wall results in a healing process which causes the vein to literally heal shut over time. This results in shrinkage of the vein, and eventually, complete obliteration of the target vein as the body absorbs the injured vein.
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