Factors that Enhance the Stability of Polidocanol and Monoethanolamine Oleic Acid Foams, and Identification of the Optimal Foam-Creating Device.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of the air ratio and the addition of glucose solution (Gluc) on the stability of polidocanol-nonionic water-soluble contrast medium (Po/CM) and monoethanolamine oleate-nonionic water-soluble contrast medium (EO/CM) foams, and to identify the optimal device to prepare these foams.

Materials and methods: Four sclerosants were used: Po/CM (Po:CM = 1:1), Po/CM-Gluc (Po:CM:70% Gluc = 2:1:1), EO/CM (EO:CM = 1:1), and EO/CM-Gluc (EO:CM:70% Gluc = 2:1:1). The four sclerosants were mixed with air at ratios of 1:4, 1:7, and 1:10 using the Micro Magic connector (MM), hydrophobic emulsifying connector (Hbic), and hydrophilic emulsifying connector (Hlic). The times taken to prepare the foams using each device and the foam half-lives were measured.

Results: The Po/CM (1:10) and Po/CM-Gluc (1:10) foams could not be prepared using any device. The EO/CM-Gluc (1:10), Po/CM (1:7), and Po/CM-Gluc (1:7) foams could not be prepared using the MM. The times taken to prepare the foams were not significantly different between the Hbic and Hlic for EO/CM-Gluc (1:4) and Po/CM (1:4). The times taken to prepare the other foams decreased significantly in the order MM > Hbic > Hlic. The half-lives of the foams were significantly prolonged by increasing the air ratio. For foams with the same air ratio, the presence of Gluc significantly increased the half-lives of EO/CM and Po/CM compared with the foams without Gluc.

Conclusion: The half-lives of foams were prolonged by increasing their air ratio and by adding Gluc. Of the tested mixture devices, Hlic created foams with longer half-lives in the shortest time.