Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020

Awareness of interventional radiology treatment options for chronic venous insufficiency in Saudi Arabia

Meshael Alreshidi^1♦, Mohammad Altraifi², Aljoharah Alwajaan², Nouf Alghris², Amirah Alshammari², Elaf Altebainawi², Afnan Alshammari², Saleh Alammari², Ibrahim Alrashidi³

¹Department of Radiology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
²College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
³Department of Radiology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Radiology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Email: me.shaal2010@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

Objective: Chronic venous insufficiency is a common medical condition in Saudi Arabia. Interventional radiology provides various minimally invasive treatment options for this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of these treatment options in the Saudi population. Methods: A self-administered online survey was distributed randomly via social media channels between June and July 2020. A total of 832 responses were received. Two experienced consultants reviewed the survey results. Results: Analysis of the participants’ knowledge regarding interventional radiology treatment options for chronic venous insufficiency showed that 6.9% had heard of cyanoacrylate embolization, 15.5% knew about radiofrequency ablation therapy, 36.8% knew about endovenous laser ablation, and 37.5% knew about sclerotherapy. A total of 84 participants (10.1%) had a history of chronic venous insufficiency. Among the participants with chronic venous insufficiency, 25% confirmed that their treating doctor had discussed interventional radiology treatment options with them, while 75% denied this. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate the need for an awareness program regarding the role of interventional radiology in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.

Keywords: venous insufficiency, interventional radiology, cyanoacrylate embolization, laser ablation, sclerotherapy

Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4576-4580

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