Chronic Venous Disease
Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) refers to other chronic conditions related to or caused by veins that become diseased or abnormal. These problems can include:
- Varicose veins and spider veins
- Leg Swelling and Leg Pain
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Leg skin changes
- Leg ulcers
- Phlebitis
- Vascular Malformations
- Varicose veins and spider veins
- Leg Swelling and Leg Pain
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Leg skin changes
- Leg ulcers
- Phlebitis
- Vascular Malformations
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are dilated, thickened, elongated, and twisted blood vessels that don’t control blood flow as they should and appear as large grape-like clusters under the skin. Spider veins are blood vessels visible under the skin but are smaller than varicose veins.
Varicose veins are dilated, thickened, elongated, and twisted blood vessels that don’t control blood flow as they should and appear as large grape-like clusters under the skin. Spider veins are blood vessels visible under the skin but are smaller than varicose veins.
Symptoms
- Aching pain
- Easily tired legs
- Leg heaviness
- Swelling in the legs
- Darkening of the skin (in severe cases)
- Numbness in the legs
- Itching or irritated rash on the legs
- Aching pain
- Easily tired legs
- Leg heaviness
- Swelling in the legs
- Darkening of the skin (in severe cases)
- Numbness in the legs
- Itching or irritated rash on the legs
Risk Factors
Varicose veins occur more often in women, especially during pregnancy (starting in the first trimester), and in people who have a job for which they must stand for long periods of time.
Treatment
There are several procedures that can be used alone or in combination to treat varicose veins. These include:
- Sclerotherapy, in which a doctor injects the veins with a solution that causes the vein to close, and the blood is then directed through healthier veins. This is a common treatment option but may require multiple treatments. It is useful for treating small and medium-sized varicose veins.
- Laser treatment, in which the heat from a laser beam destroys spider veins, but does not harm the skin. It is usually less effective than sclerotherapy for larger varicose veins in the legs.
- Phlebectomy.
- Ambulatory phlebectomy, in which the doctor removes larger varicose veins in the legs through a series of tiny skin punctures (holes). Local anesthesia is used. There is usually little scarring. This is an option for treating larger varicose veins. Endovenous thermal ablation, in which a thin tube (catheter) is inserted into the vein. Then, the surgeon injects a solution containing diluted anesthetic and applies heat through the tube, causing the vein to collapse. A scar in the vein results and the blood is forced through nearby healthy veins.
- Endovenous non-thermal ablation, in which a medical adhesive, a foam, or a rotating wire are inserted through a catheter and used to close the unhealthy veins. These procedures differ from thermal ablation as reduced amounts of anesthetic are necessary
Complications
Left untreated, varicose veins can expected to enlarge and worsen. As a result, the symptoms will become more severe. Additional health problems can result. These include:
- Severe venous insufficiency, a severe pooling of blood in the veins that slows the return of blood to the heart. This can lead to worsening of the condition, which can cause deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
- Sores or skin ulcers.
- Ongoing irritation, swelling and painful rashes on the legs.
For further information please consult following chapters of Layman’s Handbook of Venous Disorders:
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