Venous closure catheter and method for sclerotherapy

A venous closure catheter for performing sclerotherapy, comprising:

• a) an elongated catheter body having opposed proximal and distal end portions, a fluid delivery lumen and a guidewire lumen;
• b) a plurality of discharge apertures associated with the distal end portion of the catheter body and communicating with the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter body for delivering a sclerosing solution into a saphenous vein;
• and
• c) a circumferential flange positioned on an exterior surface of the catheter body proximal to the discharge apertures and having a plurality of projections formed thereon for traumatizing an inner wall of the saphenous vein upon removal of the catheter body therefrom to promote closure of saphenous vein after sclerotherapy.

A method for performing sclerotherapy comprising:

• a) introducing an elongated venous catheter into a saphenous vein of a leg;
• b) delivering a sclerosing solution into the saphenous vein through a distal end portion of the venous catheter;
• and
• c) abrading the inner wall of the saphenous vein as the venous catheter is removed from the saphenous vein.