Venous insufficiency

Venous insufficiency is a condition where the flow of blood through the veins is inadequate, causing blood to pool in the legs. The veins in your legs contain venous valves that are meant to handle this job. When they do not function efficiently, blood pools, forming spider veins, larger reticular veins, or raised, corded varicose veins. Venous insufficiency is most often caused by either blood clots or varicose veins. In healthy veins, there is a continuous flow of blood from the limbs back toward the heart. Valves within the veins of the legs help prevent the backflow of blood. The most common causes of venous insufficiency are previous cases of blood clots and varicose veins.

When unsightly becomes significant

Varicose veins affect more than 60% women and men over the world. Their tortured, enlarged blood vessels are more than a cosmetic problem. Venous insufficiency can cause discomfort and have serious consequences including:

• A dull ache or feeling of heaviness.
• Leg cramps.
• Tingling and itching sensations.
• Pain from standing.
• Leg swelling.
• Changes in skin color and condition on legs and ankles.
• Ulcers on the skin.
• Slow healing on lower extremities.
• Chronic venous insufficiency – a long term condition.

Collor dopler ultrasound testing helps to analyze blood flow and rule out other potential problems. If the diagnosis is venous insufficiency, you may only need to make a few lifestyle changes and medical treatment to halt its progress conservatively. In other cases we utilize time tested methods and the latest effective treatment technologies including sclerotherapy, EVLT and ambulatory phlebectomy.