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General Medicine

Varicose Veins

Bliss Puthenpurayil, MD and Amrutha Pavle, M.D. Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

Varicose veins (VV), or varicosities, are dilated subcutaneous veins of at least 3mm in diameter, measured with patient in upright position. They are part of a spectrum of chronic venous disord...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Symptoms range from asymptomatic, minor annoyance/cosmetic concern to debilitating complaints

  • Localized symptoms: pain/tingling, burning, itching

  • Generalized symptoms: leg cramp, fatigu...

TREATMENT

  • VV is not curable since chronic venous insufficiency causes irreversible damages to the veins and valves.

  • Indications for treatment include pain, aching, heaviness, fatigue, burning, edema, s...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

Weight-loss diet if obesity is a problem. 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Avoid long periods of standing and crossing legs.

  • Exercise (walking, running) regularly to improve leg strength and circulati...

REFERENCES

1
 Raetz J, Wilson M, Collins K. Varicose Veins: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(11):682-688.
2
 de Ávila Oliveira R, Injection sclerotherapy for varicose veins. Cochrane Da...

ADDITIONAL READING

Alsaigh T, Fukaya E. Varicose Veins and Chronic Venous Disease. Cardiol Clin. 2021;39(4):567-581. PMID: 34686268.  

CLINICAL PEARLS

RFA and EVLA have been demonstrated to be superior to open surgical techniques for VV treatment with similar improvement in quality of life. 

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varicosis: in a healthy vein the valves allow blood to travel toward heart (A) while keeping blood from flowing back away from heart (B); valves in varicose veins (C) no longer function properly, thus allowing blood to travel back toward extremities, (D) photograph of leg with varicose veins

 

varicosis: in a healthy vein the valves allow blood to travel toward heart (A) while keeping blood from flowing back away from heart (B);...

Varicose Veins

 

Varicose Veins

 
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