***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
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    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
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    Input: Three techniques for treatment of chronic venous incompetence on an out patients basis were compared in a r and omised study . One hundred thirty eight limbs ( 107 patients ) with superficial venous incompetence were r and omly treated with the dentist 's technique ( DT ) [ Group A , 44 limbs ] , compression sclerotherapy ( CS ) [ Group B , 45 limbs ] or the SAVAS ( section en Ambulatoire des Varices avec Sclérothérapie ) technique [ Group C , 49 limbs ] . Patients were evaluated and followed up ( every year for 4 years ) with ambulatory venous pressure ( AVP ) measurements and Quantum angiodynography ( colour duplex scanning ) . DT consisted in the section under local anesthesia of incompetent veins . CS was done injecting polidocanol 3 % with compression applied for 4 weeks . The SAVAS was done with a combination of DT and CS with section of the incompetent veins under local anesthesia and retro grade injection in the distal vein of polidocanol 3 % . With this type of injection only incompetent veins were perfused . After 4 years there was a significantly lower refilling time ( RT ) with AVP in the SAVAS group ( 21 sec ) . RT was 13 sec in group B and 16 in A. The number of significantly incompetent residual veins was in average 0.5 in the SAVAS group , significantly lower than in the other two groups . Also the average cost per treated limb was significantly lower in the SAVAS group ( 917 francs in comparison with 1100 in group A and 1211 in group B ) . In conclusion considering the four year follow up , the SAVAS technique is a more effective treatment of superficial venous incompetence , its hemodynamic value is superior to sclerotherapy alone and its costs are lower The influence of compression sclerotherapy upon hemostasis activation was investigated in 41 consecutive patients with lower extremity varices by serial measurement of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes ( TAT ) , D-dimer , fibrinogen and C-reactive protein ( CRP ) . Blood sampling was carried out before operation and on the 7th and 28th post-operative day in patients r and omly assigned to either the  control group ( n = 18 ) , in which high ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and local excision of varices were performed , or the  sclerotherapy group ( n = 23 ) in which the comparable surgical intervention and compression sclerotherapy using hypertonic saline were performed simultaneously . In both groups , the TAT , D-dimer and fibrinogen concentrations at day 7 were significantly elevated compared to the value before operation while CRP showed no significant change during the observation period . In the sclerotherapy group , higher incidence of superficial thrombosis was observed and the TAT concentration at day 7 was significantly higher than that in the control group ( p < 0.01 ) , and the TAT at day 28 was still significantly elevated compared to the pre-operative level ( p < 0.05 ) . However , no relationship between TAT and D-dimer concentrations and the extent of superficial thrombosis was observed . We conclude that compression sclerotherapy for lower extremity varices causes latent activation of coagulation system and can be a risk factor for venous thromboembolism 169 legs with primary varicose veins suitable for sclerotherapy were entered into the trial . At the time of injection they were r and omly allocated to be b and aged for three or six weeks ; patients allocated to the six-week group had their legs reb and aged after the first three week . Patients were subsequently assessed blind at three months and thereafter at yearly intervals PURPOSE The efficacy of sclerosing agents for the treatment of telangiectasias and reticular veins is well established . The injection of these agents is often associated with pain , and it is not uncommon for sclerotherapists to include lidocaine with the sclerosants in an attempt to reduce the pain associated with treatment . However , there are concerns that this may reduce the overall efficacy of the treatment because of dilution of the sclerosant . Patient comfort and overall outcome associated with treatment using HS with lidocaine ( LIDO ) versus that using HS alone was compared . METHODS Forty-two patients were prospect ively entered into the study and r and omized blindly to sclerotherapy with 23.4 % HS or 19 % LIDO .  Study subjects and treating physicians were blinded to the injection solution used . Injection sites were chosen for veins ranging in size from 0.1 to 3 mm . Photographs of the area to be treated were taken , and the patients rated their pain . They were then observed at regular intervals for four months , and clinical data was collected . Thirty-five subjects completed the full follow-up period , and photographs of the injected area were taken again . Three investigators blinded to the treatment assignment then evaluated the photographs and scored the treatment efficacy according to a st and ardized system . RESULTS In the HS group , 61.9 % ( 13 of 21 ) patients rated their pain as none or mild , whereas 90.5 % ( 19 of 21 ) of patients in the LIDO group had no or mild discomfort . This difference is significant , with a P value of.034 . There was no difference in the overall efficacy of treatment between the two groups . The groups had similar rates of vein thrombosis and skin necrosis . CONCLUSION Although lidocaine is often used with sclerosing agents , there are no previous reports in the literature to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the pain experienced by the patient . In this study , patients receiving LIDO experienced significantly less discomfort at the time of injection than patients who received HS alone . There were no differences in the effectiveness of treatment or in the incidence of complications between the two groups Following sclerotherapy of varicose veins , 158 limbs of 154 patients were r and omized to be b and aged with either crepe or Coban for 6 weeks each , or with Coban  for 3 days only . Objective assessment of vein eradication and subjective evaluation of symptoms 3 months after completion of treatment showed no clear differences between these regimens . Significantly more discomfort was experienced with Coban than crepe when used for 6 weeks . It is suggested that , following sclerotherapy , 3 days is an adequate period of b and aging when using Coban . Such a policy would considerably reduce the inconvenience to patients during treatment Since thrombotic complications , such as superficial thrombophlebitis and subsequent skin pigmentation , are common after sclerotherapy , we conducted a study to evaluate whether combining sclerotherapy with ligation of varicose veins minimizes complications and what timing for sclerotherapy would be most beneficial-accompanying surgery or several weeks postsurgery . Surgical intervention and compression sclerotherapy were performed consecutively on 111 limbs ( group A ) , and sclerotherapy was performed 28 days after surgical intervention on 87 limbs ( group B ) . The volume of sclerosant used and the frequency of complications ( thrombus formation and pigmentation ) were analyzed . Plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex ( TAT ) and D-dimer ( DD ) , as markers for activation of coagulation , were compared . In group A , the total volume of sclerosant used in patients with complications was significantly higher than that in patients without complications . The frequency of thrombus formation and of pigmentation was significantly lower ( p < 0.01 ) in group B ( 10 % and 18 % , respectively ) than in group A ( 21 % and 37 % , respectively ) . The plasma levels of TAT 7 days after treatment were significantly lower in group B ( 3.4 + /- 1.2 mg/L ) than in group A ( 4.9 + /- 1.1 mg/L ) . Performing compression sclerotherapy 28 days after surgical intervention is effective for reducing complications and a good alternative for patients with an underlying hypercoagulable state BACKGROUND Sclerotherapy has traditionally been considered the gold st and ard of treatment for leg veins , but patient fear of multiple needle injections and side effects of treatment have fueled investigation into other treatment alternatives . As a result , vascular-specific laser and light sources have been developed in an effort to treat these vessels with minimal morbidity and improved efficacy . OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical efficacy of leg telangiectasia treatment with sodium tetradecyl sulfate sclerotherapy to long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd : YAG laser irradiation . METHODS A series of 20 patients with size-matched superficial telangiectases of the lower extremities were r and omly assigned to receive two consecutive monthly treatments with injectable sodium tetradecyl sulfate on one leg and long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd : YAG laser irradiation on the other . Patients were evaluated by two masked assessors at each treatment visit and at 1 and 3 months after treatment to assess clinical improvement within matched sites . RESULTS Leg telangiectases responded best to sclerotherapy in fewer treatment sessions than to long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd : YAG laser irradiation . The incidence of adverse sequelae was minimal and equivocal in both treatment groups . CONCLUSION Despite recent advances in laser technology for treatment of lower extremity telangiectases , sclerotherapy continues to offer superior clinical effect in the majority of cases . Laser leg vein treatment appears to be most beneficial in patients with telangiectatic matting , needle phobia , or sclerosant allergy BACKGROUND . Thirteen patients were treated with either sodium tetradecyl sulfate ( STS ) or glycerin to compare the efficacy and adverse sequelae of each agent . OBJECTIVE . To determine the relative safety and efficacy of two sclerosant solutions . METHODS . Each patient 's leg veins that were from 0.2 to 0.4 mm in diameter and that did not have incompetence from the saphenofemoral junction and whose feeding reticular veins had been already treated in a prior sclerotherapy session were r and omly treated with either 0.25 % STS or 72 % glycerin solution . Patients were evaluated from 2 to 6 months postsclerotherapy for overall clinical improvement and incidence of adverse sequelae . RESULTS . Glycerin was comparable to STS in discomfort of injection but demonstrated a significant decrease in bruising , swelling , and postprocedural hyperpigmentation .  Glycerin also demonstrated a better , more rapid clearance of treated telangiectasias . Conclusions . Seventy‐two percent glycerin is a safe and effective sclerosant with fewer side effects and more rapid clearance of telangiectatic leg veins than STS BACKGROUND Although no r and omized controlled trial has assessed the effects of either compression sclerotherapy or ambulatory phlebectomy , both techniques are used to treat varicose veins worldwide . We performed a r and omized controlled trial to compare recurrence rates of varicose veins and complications after compression sclerotherapy and ambulatory phlebectomy . METHODS From September 1996 to October 1998 , we r and omly allocated 49 legs to compression sclerotherapy and 49 legs to ambulatory phlebectomy .  Our primary outcome parameters were as follows : recurrence rates at 1 and 2 years and complications related to therapy . Eighty-two patients were included , of whom 16 were included with both of their legs . The number of treated legs was therefore 98 , but two patients were lost to follow-up . RESULTS One year recurrence amounted to 1 out of 48 for phlebectomy and 12 out of 48 for compression sclerotherapy ( P < 0.001 ) ; at 2 years , six additional recurrences were found , but then solely for compression sclerotherapy ( P < 0.001 ) . Significant differences in complications occurring more in phlebectomy than in compression sclerotherapy therapy were blisters , teleangiectatic matting , scar formation , and bruising from b and aging . CONCLUSION Our results show that ambulatory phlebectomy is an effective therapy for varicose veins of the leg . Recurrence rates are significantly lower than for compression sclerotherapy therapy . If varicose veins persist 4 weeks after compression sclerotherapy , it can be argued that to reduce the risk of future recurrence ambulatory phlebectomy should be considered as the better treatment option The study was planned to evaluate efficacy and costs of endovascular sclerotherapy ( ES ) in comparison with surgery and surgery associated with sclerotherapy in a prospect i ve ( 10-year follow-up ) , good- clinical - practice study . Patients with varicose veins and pure , superficial venous incompetence were included . Of the patients r and omized into the three groups 39 ( group A ) were treated with ES , 40 ( B ) with surgery + sclerotherapy , and 42 with surgery only ( C ) . Surgery consisted of ligation of the SFJ ( saphenofemoral junction ) and of incompetent veins detected with color duplex . Of the preselected 150 patients , 121 subjects entered the study ; 96 completed the 10-year follow-up ( mean age 52.6 ±6 years ; 51 men , 45 women ) . Dropouts were due to nonmedical problems . At 10 years no incompetence was observed in subjects treated with SPJ ligation ( B and C ) . In the ES group 18.8 % of the SFJs were patent and incompetent and in 43.8 % of limbs the distal ( below-knee ) venous system was still incompetent [ 16.1 % in the surgery + scle rotherapy group ( p < 0.05 ) and 36 % in the group treated with surgery only ( p < 0.05 vs B and 0.05 vs A ) ] . Color duplex of 
    Output:
    
One study comparing sclerotherapy to GCS in pregnancy found that sclerotherapy  improved symptoms and cosmetic appearance .
Three studies comparing sodium tetradecyl sulphate ( STD ) to alternative sclerosants found no significant differences in outcome or complication rates ; another study found that sclerotherapy with STD led to improved cosmetic appearance compared with polidocanol , although there was no difference in symptoms .
The degree and duration of elastic compression had no significant effect on varicose vein recurrence rates , cosmetic appearance or symptomatic improvement .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Evidence from RCTs suggests that the choice of sclerosant , dose , formulation ( foam versus liquid ) , local pressure dressing , degree and length of compression have no significant effect on the efficacy of sclerotherapy for varicose veins .