What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)?

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a common cause of leg pain and swelling,

and is commonly associated with varicose veins. It occurs when the valves of the veins do not function properly, and the circulation of blood in the leg veins is impaired. CVI may affect up to 20% of adults. CVI can be caused by damaged valves in the veins or vein blockage. Both may be a result of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots in the deep veins of the legs. If a clot forms in the superficial veins, there is a very low risk of DVT occurring. Over time, CVI may result in varicose veins, swelling and discoloration of the legs, itching and the development of ulcers near the ankles. Vein problems are among the most common chronic conditions in North America. In fact, more people lose work time from vein disorders than from artery disease. By the age of 50, nearly 40% of women and 20% of men have significant leg vein problems. Spider veins occur much more frequently in women. It is estimated that at least 20 to 25 million Americans have varicose veins.

CAUSES

The cause of CVI is related either to poorly functioning vein valves or blockage in the veins. Vein valves are designed to allow blood to flow against gravity from the legs back to the heart. When the valves fail to close properly, gravity wins and the flow reverses. This is called venous reflux. Vein valves may fail to close due to:

• Vein wall weakness that causes the vein to enlarge so that the valves cannot close
• A history of blood clots or deep vein thrombosis in the vein that damage the valve
• An absence of vein valves since birth

Varicose veins are hereditary most of the time and generally occur in several members of the same family. Much less commonly, varicose veins develop after a trauma or injury.

Regardless of the cause, defective valves cause a build up of pressure of the blood in the leg, leading to venous hypertension or high blood pressure in the vein. This may result in enlargement of the varicose veins and an increased likelihood of other symptoms such as swelling, skin changes and ulcers at the ankles or lower leg. Valve failure and venous reflux can also occur in the veins that are unseen, such as the saphenous veins (which run from the foot to the thigh) or in the deep veins. Reflux in these veins is often the underlying cause of painful varicose veins. Venous reflux is a condition that is progressive. If left untreated, it can worsen and cause more advanced symptoms of CVI. On occasion, the cause of the problem is not even in the legs, but is in the pelvis. Here, blockage of the veins may severely aggravate the symptoms of varicose veins, thus requiring separate treatment.

SYMPTOMS

Varicose veins may be entirely symptom free and cause no immediate health problems. However, when varicose veins are associated with CVI, the most common sign is ankle and foot swelling that progress up the lower leg. Other skin changes in the lower leg that commonly occur include discoloration, eczema, scarring or hard, thickened skin and ulceration.

When symptoms are present the most common are heaviness or fullness, aching, restlessness, tiredness, fatigue, pain, throbbing, burning, itching and muscle cramping. In advanced cases, breakdown of the skin may cause bleeding from varicose veins, and large varicosities may develop blood clots, a condition called superficial phlebitis or thrombophlebitis. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. Do not ignore these symptoms.

RISK FACTORS

The most important factors leading to the development of chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins include:

• Family history
• Increasing age over 30
• One or more blood clots in superficial or deep veins
• Female gender, although varicose veins occur nearly as commonly in men
• Multiple pregnancies
• Prolonged standing
• Heavy lifting
• Limited physical activity, high blood pressure and obesity have also been linked with the presence of varicose veins in women

DIAGNOSIS

CVI is primarily diagnosed by physical examination. The accuracy of physical examination can be further improved with the aid of a hand-held instrument called a Doppler. This allows the examiner to listen to the blood flow. The most accurate and detailed test, however, is a venous duplex ultrasound exam. This provides an ultra-sound image or picture of the vein so that any blockage caused by blood clots or improper vein valve function can be detected. A CAT scan or MRI may be used to exclude other causes of leg swelling. These diagnostic tests are painless.

TREATMENT

The treatment of CVI involves both medical and surgical treatments:

• Diet and lifestyle
• Avoid prolonged standing or sitting
• Elevate the feet above the thighs when sitting and above the heart when lying down three to four times a day if possible to reduce swelling
• Structured exercise such as walking to strengthen calf muscles may improve calf muscle function

Source: https://vascularcures.org/chronic-venous-insufficiency/

Credit: Vascular Cures