ORTHOPEDICS/LEG, FOOT & ANKLE
The veins’ task is to carry back the blood from the body organs to the heart.
The legs being well below the heart, blood has to flow in an upward direction through the leg veins; therefore, the legs possesses one-way valves.
It is when these valves are improperly functioning that venous deficiency happens, because a blood residue will keep flowing back downward and merging in the veins, causing this disorder.
Venous deficiency/Signs
Venous deficiency is a frequent disorder that affects an average of 40% of adults.
The chances of having venous deficiency rise with age, as it is more frequent in women as well.
Furthermore, although venous deficiency can also affect the body’s upper arms, it commonly happens in the legs.
Venous deficiency are sometimes termed deep vein ineffectiveness, chronic venous syndrome, or chronic venous deficiency.
Venous deficiency /Indications
Venous insufficiency frequent indications are with unimportant appearance; however, advanced stages of this disorder may give more severe complications.
Here are some of the regular indications that may reflect this disorder:
- leg(s)Heaviness
- Inflammation in the affected leg(s)
- Pain and/or fatigue in the affected leg(s)
- Uncontrolled painful leg with cramps or tremors
- Varicose veins that shows are enlarged and twisted veins, generally bluish, and are visible from the skin surface.
- Irritated skin
- Gloomy, tough, and/or leathery-looking skin on the affected legs
In severe or advanced stages of venous deficiency, skin sores (called venous stasis ulcers) may develop on the legs lower parts, generally near the ankles.
Additionally, these spoiled capillaries can cause tissue inflammation along with the ulcers.
The excessive severe complication of these ulcers is impurity, which if not accurately managed, may spread and cause cellulitis (a theoretically life-threatening disorder).
Venous deficiency / Causes
Vein valves that are improperly functioning or any blockage in the veins can cause venous deficiency.
When this occurs, blood flows in the legs with an opposite direction to the heart. The flow in the wrong direction is also called as venous reflux.
Definite topics that can cause venous deficiency are:
- A blood clot in the legs deep veins :
This disorder is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and it is the most frequent venous deficiency cause.
In this case, the clot blocks the regular flow of blood, increasing the pressure inside the veins. This pressure stresses and ultimately injures the vein valves.
- Standing (or sitting) for long periods and recurrently can weaken the vein valves.
- The normal aging process.
- Congenital defects in the vein valves.
- Lack of exercise or reduced mobility.
Venous deficiency /Risk factors
These following individuals’ categories are in higher risks than others are:
Being female, being pregnant having a vein damage, prolonged standing or sitting, smoking, having a family history with varicose veins, living an inactive lifestyle, being over 50 years age,
Venous deficiency /Diagnosis
To diagnose venous deficiency, doctor will first consider the patient medical history
A physical examination by using a device called “Doppler” may help diagnosis.
Tests recommended to diagnose venous deficiency include: Duplex Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance (MR) Venography, CT (Computed tomography) Venography, Phlebography or (venography), and phlebography (ascending and descending)
Excluding phlebography, all these tests are painless and must be done in standing position.
Venous deficiency /Therapy
Since the main topic with venous deficiency is lack of proper blood flowing in the right direction, therapy will focus on getting the blood in the veins to flow right.
The therapy plan will consider the aging, the venous deficiency outlook, the experiencing indications and the current medicines that patient is taking.
Advices to consider:
Wearing compression stockings, practicing specific exercises, keeping legs lifting as much as possible, avoid standing or sitting for prolonged periods, quit smoking and dedicated medicines.
Diuretics: Diuretics, also known as water pills, are drugs that are used to pull out excess fluid from the body through the kidneys. They may be prescribed to help teat the swelling, if any, associated with your venous insufficiency.
Venous deficiency / Medical Therapy
Endovenous laser ablation: This minimally aggressive technique involves the use of laser heat through a catheter or cannula to heat up and seal the affected veins.
Radiofrequency ablation: similar to endovenous laser therapy, with one difference, using radiofrequency energy instead of lasers.
Sclerotherapy: the affected veins will be injected with special chemical solutions.
Venous deficiency / Surgery
Different surgical alternatives may be recommend:
Ligation: This surgical process involves tying off the affected veins.
Surgical repair: This involves repairing the affected vein valves surgically.
Subfascial Endoscopy Perforator Surgery: This technique is used to treat venous deficiency. Small incisions are made into the calf and these perforator veins are blocked off using surgical clips.
Vein bypass: This involves surgically removing healthy veins from one part of the body and transplanting it where the veins affected by venous deficiency are located.
A Final Word
Feeling anxious and even worried when diagnosis mentions the presence of venous deficiency is quiet normal; however, it is generally not life-threatening and with an appropriate therapy plan, patient should be fine.
Do not miss to report any modifications in your indications to your doctor to avoid the disorder from developing and worsening.
Finally, try to integrate significant lifestyle modifications by exercising more, into your daily life style.