What is Venous Disease

 

     Veins are the vascular structures which carry blood back to the heart from the periphery of the body.  Veins contain valves, which are flaps of tissue very similar to the valves in the heart.  Just as the heart valves are necessary to pump blood around the body, venous valves combined with squeezing of leg muscles are necessary to pump blood in the legs against gravity back to the heart.

If we did not have venous valves, blood would pool in the legs, resulting in very swollen ankles.  We probably would not be able to get blood back to the heart when standing.

Vein disease occurs when the venous valves are congenitally absent or do not work properly.  This results in high pressure in the venous system.  The high venous pressure results in stretching or dilatation of the veins causing VARICOSE and Spider Veins.  The high pressure, when severe enough, can also cause bleeding and tissue damage including skin inflammation(dermatitis)and ULCERS on the ankle.

The  poor circulation resulting from abnormal valves can also result in thrombophlebitis and blood clots in the veins.  This does not happen in most people with varicose veins, but when it does occur, it can be life threatening.

Most individuals with varicose veins have abnormal valves in the Saphenous Veins.  This results in reflux, which is the backward flow of blood. This in turn causes varicose veins, usually in the calves.  Many patients  seek medical attention because of bulging calf varicosities.  If only the visible varicosities are treated, the high pressure from untreated refluxing larger veins will soon cause new varicosities.  We call this the “tip of the iceberg problem” meaning we need to treat abnormal larger veins which are unseen under the skin in order to get good results.

 

 

Risk factors for venous disease are:

1.          Heredity

2.          Female sex

3.          Pregnancy

4.          Age

5.          obesity

Columbia Vein Center

320 Harbison Boulevard, Suite 200

Columbia, SC  29212

Across from the entrance to Columbiana Mall

To contact us:

Phone: 803-732-2554

Fax: 803-753-9257

email: drandersonmd@earthlink.net