Peripheral Venous Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment
What is Peripheral Venous Disease?
Peripheral venous disease, or venous insufficiency, is a disorder of the blood vessels. This circulation abnormality affects the veins, the channels that carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart. This condition most often occurs in the arms and legs, though it can occur anywhere in the body.
There are several causes of peripheral venous disease. The most common include the following:
- Chronic Blood Clots: These are coagulated masses of blood that consist of proteins, platelets, and cells that form as a response to a blood vessel injury. When they do not dissolve on their own, they can move throughout the body and cause significant health complications.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency: This condition causes vein valves to malfunction, leading to a reversal of blood flow, resulting in bulging veins, damaged tissues, and painful varicose veins.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This condition occurs when a blood clot lodges within the deep veins of the pelvis and lower extremities, though it can also occur in the arms. Deep vein thrombosis can cause pain and swelling and can even lead to significant medical issues if the blood clot travels to the lungs.
- May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS): A disorder that causes the right iliac artery to press against the left iliac vein, inhibiting the flow of oxygen-poor blood from the left leg.
At CardioVascular Health Clinic, we offer numerous effective treatments for managing and even reversal of the peripheral venous disease.
What Are Peripheral Venous Disease Symptoms?
Peripheral venous disease doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms until it has become advanced. Symptoms of peripheral venous disease include the following:
- Varicose veins
- Swollen legs
- Tingling sensation in the legs and feet
- Pain when standing that subsides when the legs are elevated
There are many ways to get rid of varicose veins which is why it’s important to seek medical advice early and get a proper diagnosis and varicose veins treatment plan.
What Are Peripheral Venous Disease Treatments?
Peripheral venous disease treatment aims to reestablish normal blood flow and reduce the likelihood of medical complications. Treatment options range from lifestyle modifications and medications to minimally invasive or surgical procedures.
- Medications: If the recurrent formation of blood clots causes your peripheral venous disease, oral anticoagulant medications might be appropriate. This allows existing blood clots to dissolve while inhibiting the formation of new ones. However, this treatment might be suitable for everyone because anticoagulant medications can sometimes cause severe bleeding.
- Venous Angioplasty: Your physician inserts a long, narrow tube (catheter) into a blood vessel and navigates it toward the blockage. Once the blockage is located, a balloon is inflated, creating an opening through which blood can flow. A stent is then inserted into the vein to keep it open.
- Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Therapy: This procedure is used when the blockage is determined to be a blood clot. The technique involves using a catheter to deliver a medication (thrombolytic) that dissolves blood clots to the site of the blockage. The blood clot typically dissolves within a day.
- Surgical Bypass: Bypass surgery involves using a healthy blood vessel, either from the body or a synthetic implant, to create an unobstructed pathway for blood flow.
CardioVascular Health Clinic specializes in peripheral venous disease treatment, using the latest techniques and technologies to alleviate symptoms and improve vascular function. To schedule a comprehensive consultation, please get in touch with our helpful representatives today.
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