Chronic Venous Insufficiency
What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a condition where the valves in your veins don't work as they should. It affects the veins in your legs, causing blood to pool and put increased pressure on the walls of the veins. CVI is common among people who are middle-aged or older. It’s also more common in women, especially if you’ve had multiple pregnancies.
What causes Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
There are two main reasons you might have developed CVI:
A valve in your vein doesn’t work property (valve dysfunction). The reason for this may be unknown, but is often hereditary.
A value in your vein has been destroyed (valve destruction) after a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clot. Without the valve, the vein becomes completely blocked, causing swelling and tissue changes.
What are the symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
Most CVI symptoms are mild but you may notice them more after you’ve been standing for any time. This is because the vein valves are not working properly to help pump the blood away from your legs. You might notice any of the following symptoms:
Heaviness, swelling, burning or pain in the affected limb
A darkening of the skin due to blood pooling in the area
An open sore or ulcer may develop (usually on the inside of the ankle) that is difficult to heal
Dermatitis as a result of changes to the underlying tissues
Enlarged and twisted veins close to the surface of the skin (Varicose Veins) which is usually a sign of a milder form of venous disease
How is Chronic Venous Insufficiency diagnosed?
Your doctor may refer you to see a vascular surgeon to confirm a diagnosis of CVI. A vascular surgeon will ask more questions about your symptoms and medical history before examining you and doing some tests.
An ultrasound may be recommended to look at your vein valves and see how they are working. If your swelling is severe, or not responding to initial treatments, a CT scan may be needed to look for vein narrowing or blockage in your abdomen.
How is Chronic Venous Insufficiency treated?
There are many non-invasive treatment options for people with CVI. The main goal is to prevent severe swelling and ulcers from developing.
Your vascular surgeon may recommend that you wear compression garments to relieve symptoms like swelling and to help with healing (eg if you have an ulcer). You may also be advised to take regular, moderate exercise or lose weight to reduce the pressure on the veins.
For more advanced cases of CVI, surgical treatment may be recommended:
If superficial veins are affected, vein ablation or injection may be used.
If Varicose Veins develop close to the skin, they may be removed through superficial vein stripping.
If deep veins are affected, angioplasty and stenting maybe recommended.
In rare cases, surgical bypass may be required.
It’s important to understand that symptoms often return even after a successful treatment. You may need further care or ongoing to treatment to keep on top of your CVI symptoms.
How do I prevent Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
You can prevent CVI and help manage any symptoms by making small changes to your daily routine and lifestyle, such as:. Things like:
Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly
Wear any compression garments you’ve been prescribed
Follow a good skin care regime and seek treatment for any sores or ulcers straight away
Take your medications as prescribed, especially if you have had a DVT
Follow any other recommendations from your vascular surgeon
Talk to your doctor
If you have any questions about Chronic Venous Insufficiency, speak to the team at Vascular Associates.