varicose veins Flashcards
1
Q
what is a varicose vein?
A
a dilated subcutaneous vein with reversed blood flow
form due to incompetent valves
2
Q
what is a complication of varicose veins?
A
venous ulcer (5%)
3
Q
varicose veins - risk factors
A
FH
pregnancies
obesity
job
4
Q
chronic venous HTN - progression
A
damages subcutaneous fat, which becomes fibrotic - lipodermatosclerosis
skin around ankle feels hard + is tethered to subcutaneous tissues - inverted champagne bottle leg
5
Q
CEAP classification - progression of varicose veins
A
thread veins → varicose veins oedema pigmentation ± eczema lipodermatosclerosis healed ulcer active ulcer
6
Q
venous insufficiency - investigations
A
doppler
everyone with symptomatic VVs should be referred for assessment
duplex USS
7
Q
varicose veins - treatments
A
foam sclerotherapy
laser/radiofrequency endothermal ablation
surgery
