Outcomes of Sclerotherapy of the Ulcer Bed Compared to a Combination of Ablation and Injections

Research Question: Do outcomes of sclerotherapy of the ulcer bed alone, differ from a combination of ablation and injections? Specific Aims: Efficacy: 1. To determine if receiving sclerotherapy and ablation along with compression therapy at the start of treatment (arm 1) has any benefit over receiving sclerotherapy at the start of treatment and ablation 3 months later along with compression therapy (arm 2) in the treatment of chronic venous ulcers. 2. To compare and determine which arm has improved scores for quality of life (using the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire). 3. To compare and determine which arm has improved venous clinical severity scores (VCSS). 4. To determine ulcer outcome and need for retreatment in arm 1 versus arm 2. Safety: 1\. To determine which arm puts patients at greater risk of increased healing times in the treatment of chronic venous ulcers. Methods: Patients who are treated at Jobst Vascular Institute (JVI) will be evaluated for potential enrollment in this prospective study. Those who qualify, or their legally authorized representative (LAR), will be approached with study information and informed consent. Patients, or their LAR, who agree to participate will be consented and enrolled in the study. This will be a randomized clinical trial. Subjects will be randomly allocated to each group. There will be roughly equal number of subjects in each arm. Arm 1 will be patients receiving sclerotherapy and ablation at the start of treatment along with compression therapy. The patients in arm 1 will not receive any further treatment during the duration of the study. Arm 2 will be patients who receive sclerotherapy at the start of treatment along with compression therapy, and ablation 3 months later. All patients in arm 2 will receive ablation at their 3 month appointment. After ablation, the patients in arm 2 will not receive any further treatment for the remainder of the study. 30 opaque envelopes, 15 indicating arm 1 and 15 indicating arm 2, will be prepared by the study coordinator. Patients who agree to participate will select an envelope and treatment will be initiated based off of the arm that is selected. In the event of a participants early termination from the study, up to 5 study participants will be replaced in each study arm to help ensure an adequate number of subjects for analysis. The purpose of this study is to see if one treatment is more effective over the other in treating chronic venous ulcers. Patients who participate will have ultrasound-guided sclerosant injected into the affected area. Half of the patients will only receive injections (arm 2) while the other half of the patients will receive injections along with ablation (arm 1). Patients in arm 1 will not receive any further treatment during the remainder of the study. All patients will fill out a quality of life questionnaire (using the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire) and complete the venous clinical severity score (VCSS) questionnaire prior to treatment. All patients will undergo compression therapy. Patients will be seen weekly after treatment. Safety assessments will take place during these weekly appointments to ensure patient safety. After 3 months, patients will be brought in for another follow up visit. The 3 month follow up is considered standard protocol after these procedures to monitor for adverse events. Ulcer size, symptoms, healing rate, quality of life (using the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire), and venous clinical severity score (VCSS) will be assessed. All patients in arm 2, will receive ablation at this time. All patients will continue to be seen weekly to assess healing progress and to ensure patient safety. Six months following initial treatment, the patients will return for another follow up visit where ulcer size, symptoms, healing rate, quality of life (using the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire), and VCSS will be assessed. Participation in the study will be complete after the 6 month follow up appointment. Patients will continue to see their physician for treatment, if needed, after their participation has concluded. All treatments and appointments are considered standard of care and will be billed to the patients insurance. Following completion of data collection (see study variables on attached excel sheet), analysis will be completed to identify study results. We will be analyzing the differences between the two groups in A. ulcer healing rate (comparison of means, generalized linear model), and B. proportion of healed ulcers (Chi square). Number of Subjects: Up to 40 subjects. The goal is to enroll 15 subjects in each arm. In the event of a participants early termination from the study, up to 5 study participants will be replaced in each study arm to help ensure an adequate number of subjects for analysis. Background: Venous ulcers are the most common cause of ulcerations that affect the lower extremities and are estimated to effect 1% of the American population. They are responsible for more than 80% of lower extremity ulcerations. Venous ulcers are most common in the elderly and in patients with a history of diabetes, obesity, varicose veins, blood clots, and edema of the lower extremities. Treatment is extensive averaging 6 to 12 months of continual therapy. Healing rates for these ulcers are poor and more than 50% of these types of ulcers are still unhealed after 9 months. Over 70% of those patients will end up developing another venous ulcer within 5 years. With these astounding numbers, it is imperative for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Any underlying causes should also be assessed and determined at the time of diagnosis to help with healing and prevention. Management of these ulcers has historically been compression treatment, stripping of the superficial veins, elevation of the effected leg, and exercise. Ablative superficial surgery along with compression is another form of treatment. Endovenous ablation is where the problematic vein is sealed off (generally the great saphenous vein (GSV) in the thigh or the short saphenous vein (SSV) behind the knee and calf). A catheter is fed up the vein from the ankle or knee level. It is carefully fed, using the aid of ultrasound, to the junction between the GSV and SSV. An electrical current or laser energy is passed through the vein wall causing the vein to contract and seal itself off. This procedure is quicker and less painful compared to the traditional operation of vein stripping. Early endovenous ablation of superficial venous reflux in addition to compression has resulted in shorter ulcer healing time and a reduction in the 12-month reoccurrence rate versus compression therapy alone. Another popular form of treatment is sclerotherapy. Either a foam mixture or a solution is injected into the effected veins causing inflammation and scarring. Over time this leads to destruction of the veins. This treatment is also commonly used with compression therapy. This technique promotes rapid healing usually occurring within 4 to 8 weeks after the initial treatment and long term recurrence rates. This route is much less invasive, quicker, and less painful than the historical procedure of vein stripping. Although there have been several studies performed on the significance of endovenous ablation and sclerotherapy, there is very little data or evidence to support the effectiveness of endovenous ablation in addition to sclerotherapy and compression in the treatment of venous ulcers and their reoccurrence. There is also very little data on whether receiving sclerotherapy and ablation together at the start of treatment, has any benefit over receiving sclerotherapy at the start of treatment and conducting ablation at a later time.