Question

A client with a diagnosis of varicose veins is scheduled for treatment by sclerotherapy and is receiving education about the procedure from the nurse. Which statement by the client indicates that the teaching has been effective?

1."It involves tying off the veins so that circulation is redirected in another area." 2."It involves surgically removing the varicosity, so anesthesia will be required."
3."It involves tying off the veins to prevent sluggishness of blood from occurring."
4."It involves injecting an agent into the vein to damage the vein wall and close it off."

Answer 1

The correct statement indicating the client's understanding of sclerotherapy is that it involves injecting an agent into the veins to damage and close them off. Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins and does not require general anesthesia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client's understanding of sclerotherapy is indicated by their ability to correctly describe the procedure. Among the options given, the statement, "It involves injecting an agent into the vein to damage the vein wall and close it off." accurately reflects what sclerotherapy entails. This procedure is a non-surgical treatment for varicose veins where a medicine is injected into the veins causing them to shrink, rather than removing them surgically or tying them off. Sclerotherapy doesn't require general anesthesia since it is not an invasive surgical procedure.

Varicose veins occur when defective valves in the veins prevent proper blood flow, leading to swelling and enlargement of the veins, commonly found in the lower limbs. While surgery may be advised for serious cases — for example, through vein stripping or ambulatory phlebectomy — sclerotherapy represents a less invasive option that can be performed without general anesthesia. Moreover, those with varicose veins have an increased risk of developing blood clots, making appropriate treatment important.