| Chronic venous insufficiency | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Chronic venous disease, chronic peripheral venous insufficiency |
 | |
| Chronic venous insufficiency | |
| Specialty | Vascular surgery |
| Symptoms | Lower leg swelling, skin changes, leg discomfort[1] |
| Complications | Venous ulcers, varicose veins, eczema, cellulitis[1] |
| Duration | Long term[1] |
| Types | Superficial, perforating, deep[2] |
| Risk factors | Genetics, high blood pressure, prolonged sitting, smoking, prior deep vein thrombosis, pregnancy, leg injury, prolonged standing[1][2] |
| Diagnostic method | Symptoms and examination[2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Heart failure, lymphedema, lipedema, dermatitis, cellulitis[1][2] |
| Treatment | Leg elevation, exercise, weight management, compression therapy, surgery[1] |
| Frequency | Common[2] |
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition in which blood pools in, rather than returns normally from the veins of the legs.[2] Symptoms may include lower leg swelling, skin changes, and leg discomfort.[1] Skin changes may include small visible blood vessels and skin discoloration.[2] Complications may include venous ulcers, varicose veins, eczema, and cellulitis.[1]
Risk factors include genetics, high blood pressure, prolonged sitting, smoking, prior deep vein thrombosis, pregnancy, leg injury, and prolonged standing.[1][2] The underlying mechanism involves high pressures, either due to backward flow or obstructed flow, within the veins.[1] Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and examination, though may be supported by ultrasound.[2]
Initial treatment is generally with leg elevation, exercise, weight management, and compression therapy.[1] Some types can be improved with surgical therapies such as sclerotherapy or vein stripping.[1] Recurrence; however, is common after surgery.[1] The condition often gets worse with time.[1]
Chronic venous insufficiency is common.[2] In the United States about 6.5 million people are affected.[1] Older people are more commonly affected.[1] It appears to occur less commonly in non-Western countries.[1] Chronic venous insufficiency was described in Ancient India by Sushruta and later in Ancient Greece by Hippocrates.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Patel, SK; Surowiec, SM (January 2020). "Venous Insufficiency". PMID 28613694.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Venous insufficiency". dermnetnz.org. DermNet NZ. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Abela, George S. (2004). Peripheral Vascular Disease: Basic Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 473. ISBN 978-0-7817-4383-9.