QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VENOUS SYSTEM

What is the main difference between arteries and veins?
In simplest terms, arteries pump oxygen-rich blood FROM the heart, veins return oxygen-depleted blood TO the heart.

What are the three main categories of veins?
Deep leg veins return blood directly to the heart and are in the center of the leg, near the bones. Superficial leg veins are just beneath the skin. They have less support from surrounding muscles and bones than the deep veins and may thus develop an area of weakness in the wall. When ballooning of the vein occurs, the vein becomes varicose. Perforator veins serve as connections between the superficial system and the deep system of leg veins.

What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins--which afflict 10% to 20% of all adults but serve no useful purpose in the body--are swollen, twisted, blue veins that are close to the surface of the skin. Because valves in them are damaged, they hold more blood at higher pressure than normal. That forces fluid into the surrounding tissue, making the affected leg swell and feel heavy.

Unsightly and uncomfortable, varicose veins can promote swelling in the ankles and feet and itching of the skin. They may occur in almost any part of the body but are most often seen in the back of the calf or on the inside of the leg between the groin and the ankle. Left untreated, patient symptoms are likely to worsen with some possibly leading to venous ulceration.

What causes varicose veins?
The normal function of veins - both the deep veins in the leg and the superficial veins which feed them - is to carry blood back to the heart. During walking, for instance, the calf muscle acts as a pump, contracting veins and forcing blood back to the heart.

To prevent that blood from flowing in the wrong direction, veins have numerous valves. If the valves fail, blood flows into the superficial veins and down the leg. This results in veins enlarging and becoming varicose. The process is like blowing air into a balloon without letting the air flow out again. The balloon swells.

To succeed, treatment must stop this reverse flow at the highest site or sites of valve failure.

Why does it occur more in the legs?
Gravity is the culprit. The distance from the feet to the heart is the furthest blood has to travel in the body. Consequently, those vessels experience a great deal of pressure. If vein valves can't handle it, the backflow of blood causes the surface veins to become swollen and distorted.

Who is at risk for varicose veins?
Conditions contributing to varicose veins include genetics, obesity, pregnancy, hormonal changes at menopause, work or hobbies requiring extended standing, and past vein diseases such as thrombophlebitis (i.e. inflammation of a vein as a blood clot forms.) Women suffer from varicose veins more than men, and the incidence increases to 50% of people over age 50.

What are the symptoms?
Varicose veins may ache, and feet and ankles may swell towards day's end, especially in hot weather. Varicose veins can get sore and inflamed, causing redness of the skin around them. In some cases, patients may develop venous ulcerations.

What are venous leg ulcers?
Venous ulcers are areas of the lower leg where the skin has died and exposed the flesh beneath. Ulcers can range from the size of a penny to completely encircling the leg. They are painful, odorous open wounds which weep fluid and can last for months or even years. Most leg ulcers occur when vein disease is left untreated. They are most common among older people but can also affect individuals as young as 18.

What is the short term treatment for varicose veins?
ESES (pronounced SS) is an easy way to remember the conservative approach. It stands for Exercise Stockings Elevation Still. Exercising, wearing compression hose, elevating and resting the legs will not make the veins go away or necessarily prevent them from worsening. However, it may provide some symptomatic relief. Weight reduction is also helpful.

If there are inflamed areas or an infection, topical antibiotics may be prescribed. If ulcers develop, medication and dressings should be changed regularly.

What is sclerotherapy?
A chemical injection, such as a saline or detergent solution, is injected into a vein causing it to close up. Other veins then take over its work. This may bring only temporary success and varicose veins frequently recur. It is most effective on smaller veins, less than 1-2mm in diameter.

What is ambulatory phlebectomy?
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a surgical procedure in which multiple small incisions are made along a varicose vein and it is "fished out" of the leg using surgical hooks or forceps. The procedure is done under local or regional anesthesia, in an operating room or an office "procedure room." It can be done in conjunction with a Closure® procedure.

What is vein stripping?
We no longer perform this outdated procedure. It has been replaced with the patented Closure® procedure. In dramatic contrast to stripping, this procedure simply "closes" the saphenous vein, but leaves it's branches intact. Click here see more detailed information on the Closure® procedure.

Closure® is a Registered Trademark of VNUS Medical Technologies