Before knowing your specific venous disease, it's important to understand the function of veins in your body. When the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood through the arteries around the body, veins finish the cycle and return blood to the heart. Veins normally pump blood one way using small valves to keep blood from flowing the opposite direction. Sometimes the valves become weakened, allowing the blood to flow backward and to pool, creating high pressure buildup in the veins, resulting in twisting and stretching, sluggish blood flow, and the potential for blood clot formation.
Varicose veins are dilated, twisting, bulging, discolored superficial veins. Varicose veins most commonly occur in women, tend to be genetic, and can be aggravated during pregnancy.
Varicose veins may cause no symptoms, or they may cause a dull, heavy ache, itching, burning, fatigue, and cramping, particularly after standing for a long time. Dilated veins may be tender to touch, and occasionally ankle swelling may develop as the day progresses.
To view a brief complimentary video explanation of the vein treatment procedures, call Intermountain Vein Center at (801) 452-VEIN (8346) for the video player password.
Spider Veins
Sometimes small veins appear on the calves and ankles of the legs. These "spider veins" are unsightly but are not a serious medical concern. Spider veins can be treated with sclerotherapy to improve the appearance of your legs. The doctor, registered nurse, or licensed practitioner injects a medication into the veins, which eliminates the veins within a few weeks. The procedure requires no anesthesia and typically lasts between 15 and 45 minutes. Insurances generally do not cover spider vein procedure.
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (Pelvic Venous Insufficiency) is a significant, but often under diagnosed cause of chronic pelvic pain. This condition is found in up to 30% of women suffering with chronic pelvic pain. The syndrome is caused by weakened or damaged veins, which normally drain blood from the pelvic region. The diseased veins allow backward flow of blood and high pressure pooling in the pelvis. The resulting pressure and venous distension often causes chronic pelvic and leg pain.
Pelvic venous insufficiency can be effectively treated by a specially trained Interventional Radiologist. Under sophisticated imaging guidance a catheter is threaded selectively into the culprit veins. The diseased veins are closed (embolized) which reduces high-pressure pooling and backward flow. Once the damaged veins are closed off, healthy veins compensate and regulate blood flow from the pelvic area.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition which develops over several years due to faulty valves in the veins. Risk factors include deep venous thrombosis, heredity, obesity, trauma, female gender, and advancing age.
The first signs of chronic venous insufficiency are ankle and leg swelling. Swelling occurs because the blood has pooled, causing abnormally high pressure in the veins. Eventually, the capillaries may burst under the high pressure, releasing red blood cells which causes reddish-brown skin discoloration. The discolored skin is susceptible to minor trauma such as a scratch or bump. Late stages of chronic insufficiency are associated with non-healing sores called venous stasis ulcerations. These ulcers can often be successfully treated through focused ablation of abnormal veins. Optimal treatment also includes compression therapy and meticulous wound care.
Superficial Vein Thrombophlebitis
Superficial thrombophlebitis occurs when the veins close to the surface of the body are inflamed and become swollen. The inflammation causes a blood clot to form in the vein. The clot in the vein causes pain and irritation and may hinder blood flow. Since the inflammation is often caused by an injury to a vein, people are more likely to get this condition in areas where blood flows more slowly than normal, such as in varicose veins. Treatment may include use of antinflammitory agents and warm compresses.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot, known as a thrombus, in the deep leg vein. It is a very serious condition that can cause permanent damage to the leg, known as post-thrombotic syndrome, or a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
The deep veins that lie near the center of the leg are surrounded by powerful muscles that contract and force deoxygenated blood back to the heart and lungs. One-way valves prevent the back-flow of blood between contractions. Blood is squeezed up the leg against gravity and the valves prevent it from flowing back to the feet. In diseased veins blood can accumulate or “pool,” which may result in clot formation. Recent (acute) deep venous thrombosis can often be treated by an Interventional Radiologist using catheter-directed infusion of a medication which dissolves the blood clot. In this manner longer term complications of deep venous thrombosis may be prevented. Treatment may also involve use of anticoagulants and compression stockings.
