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VARICOSE VEINS

About Varicose Veins

Complications from Varicose Veins

VNUS ClosureFAST Procedure

Compression Therapy

Endovenous Vein Ablation

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

The Old Approach: Vein Stripping and Ligation

Recurrent Varicosities After Surgery (RVAS)

Expert Diagnostics

Insurance and Medicare

complications and problems

Complications from Varicose Veins

If the vein problems become severe and long standing, they can cause a number of symptoms. Common symptoms include:

  • A heavy sensation in the legs when standing
  • Easy leg fatique
  • Aching Pain
  • Itching and skin irritation along the swollen veins
  • Throbbing sensation along the veins
  • Restless legs at night
  • Skin discoloration around the ankles

Patients tend to find that the longer they are up and on their feet, the worse the symptoms they experience.

Beyond the symptoms, patients can have complications when varicose veins persist and go untreated. In a number of cases, long-standing venous insufficiency occcurs, wherin the blood in the veins pools and stretches out the veins and skin, resulting in chronic leg pain and swelling. This problem can be particularly severe in patients who have had previous deep venous thrombosis, a condition known as the post-thrombotic syndrome.

One of the first complications seen is at the skin level, often at the ankle. Patients can develop:

  • Ankle hyperpigmentation (increased skin color)
  • Lipodermatosclerosis (hard, plaque-like painful areas affecting the skin and the tissues under the skin)
  • Atrophie blanche (white scar tissue)

Because the skin tissue around the varicose veins, especially at the ankle level, may not receive enough nourishment when the venous pressures are high, sores or skin ulcers may develop. Without treating the superficial venous insufficiency, these ulcers can be very difficult to heal and can result in permanent disablity.

Another potentially serious condition is called superficial venous thrombophlebitis, which is inflammation in a clotted superficial vein. This process can further damage the valves, contributing to worsening vein problems. This can also progress to problems involving bloods developing in the deep vein, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis.  These blood clots can be very dangerous, as the clots can travel from the leg veins to the lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism, where it may block the heart and lungs from functioning.

Occasionally, the skin over the veins becomes so thin that the skin breaks open and bleeding ensues.

>> For more information about complications from varicose veins:

American College of Phlebology