Varicose Veins
- Dilated, tortuous, superficial veins usually of leg
Aetiology
- Primary - common, often familial
- Secondary
- Obstruction to venous outflow
- pregnancy
- fibroids
- ovarian cysts
- abdominal lymphadenopathy
- pelvic cancer
- iliac vein thrombosis
- retroperitoneal fibrosis
- Valve destruction
- High flow and pressure
Symptoms & Signs
- Tortuous dilated veins of long or short saphenous system
- usually tributaries rather than saphenous veins themselves
- Aching discomfort especially on standing
- Examination of
Varicose Veins
Complications
- Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Haemorrhage
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency
- Varicose eczema
- Varicose pigmentation (due to haemosiderin deposition)
- Lipodermatosclerosis
- Venous stasis ulcer
- Long-standing ulcers may become malignant
Treatments
- Compression stockings
- Sclerosing injections
- Surgical
- avulsion with compression bandaging
- saphenous vein stripping
- high ligation of saphenous vein
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