ANATOMY › Dilated, tortuous and elongated superficial veins of the lower limb are called varicose veins. › Veins are specifically designed to allow flow in one direction. › Presence of numerous valves prevent venous reflux.
› The veins of the lower limbs are divided into 3 grps— : Deep veins Superficial veins Communicating/ perforating veins.
› Superficial veins— act as conduit taking blood from surface to deep veins via perforating veins. › Long saphenous vein— orginates in the medial border of the foot from tributaries of the dorsl venous arch, ascends in front of medial malleolus and run along the medial side of the leg. › Accompanied by saphenous nerve below the knee.
› Anterior and posterior branches joined the LSV below the level of knee. › At the level of knee LSV lies superficially in posterior position.in the thigh LSV passes antero superiorly up the medial side of thigh to reach the saphenous opening in deep fascia to join the femoral vein. › Tributaries near its termination— superficial cicumflex illiac, sup epigastric, sup external pudendal.
› Short saphenous vein— arises at the lateral border of the foot and passes upward behind the lateral malleolus and lies over the lat and the post aspect of the leg and enters the deep fascia in the popliteal fossa to join the popliteal vein.
› Deep veins— tibial , popliteal, femoral veins are the deep veins which drain blood into the illiac veins and than to IVC. › Pumping veins are venous sinuses in calf muscles which pumps blood towards major veins, also called as musculo—venous pumps.
› Perforating veins— They connect sup to deep veins at various levels, guarded by valves - ankle perforators(may or kuster) — lower leg perforators(1,2,3) cockett — below knee perforator(boyd) › — mid thigh perforators (dodd)
Phsyiology › Lower limb veins allow flow from distal to proximal and from superficial to deep , but prevent retrograde flow. › Venous valves are abundant in distal lower limb. › Arterial pressure across the capillary increases the pumping action of vein. › Calf muscle pump— alternate contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the leg. › Negative intrathorasic pressure.
Normal Normal Abnormal Abnormal
Normal Normal Abnormal Abnormal
Types › Long saphenous vein varicosity Short saphenous vein varicoisity › Varicose vein due to perforator incompetence › Thread veins › Reticular varices
Etiology › Primary varicosity Congenital incompetence or absence of valves Weakness or wasting of muscles Stretching of deep fascia Klippel — Trennuaney syndrome, familial Secondary varicosity Recurrent thromboplebitis Pregnancy Pelvic tumors OCP's Occupational eg: abdominal tumors Obstruction to venous return Retroperitoneal fibrosis AV malformation Iliac vein thrombosis
› Other sites Esophageal varices Hemmorhoids Varicocele Vulva Caput medusa
Pathogenesis Venous Diseases › Two theories Fibrin cuff theory White cell trapping theory
• Incompetence of venous valves • Stasis of blood • Chronic venous hypertension • Defective microcirculation • RBC diffuses into tissue planes • Lysis of RBC's
› Release of hemosiderin › Pigmentation › Dermatitis • Capillary endothelial damage › Severe anoxia i Chronic venous ulceration ›
› Inappropriate activation of trapped leucocytes release proteolytic enzymes which cause cell destruction and ulceration— white cell theory › Fibrin deposition. Tissue death, scaring occur together called as lipodermatosclerosis
Classification of lower extremity venous disease › C — clinical signs (0— 6) › E— etiology (congenital, primary, secondary) › A— anatomy ( superficial, deep, perforator, or combination) P— pathophysiology ( reflux, obstruction or both)
Clinical Classification 0— no visible signs l — telangectasia, reticular veins, flare › 2— varicose veins 3— edema without skin changes › 4— skin changes due to venous disease 5— skin changes with healed ulcer 6— skin changes with active ulcer yr
cal features r More common in females r Visible dialted veins in the leg with dragging pain and nocturnal cramps and feeling of heaviness r Pigmentation, Ulceration, eczema, dermatitis, bleeding r Pedal edema r Restricted ankle movements r Skin thickening
› Reticular veins UlCOfS
› Trendelenburg test Type 1 Type 2 Schwartz test Multiple torniquet test › Fegans test › Modified perthes test › Morriseys cough impulse test
Ultrasonography Superficial and deep systems evaluated Physiologic reflux: < 0.5 sec Pathologic reflux: > 0.5 sec
Treatment › Conservative Injection line of treatment › Surgical › Newer Methods
C onser v ati v e Crepe bandage Unna boots › Limb elevation Pneumatic compression method Medical Calcium dobesilate 500mg BD Diosmin 450mg BD
Inj ec tion line of treatment › Indication of Sclerotherapy — Uncomplicated perforator incompetance › — Smaller varices › — Recurrent varices › — Isolated varicosities
› Sclerosant used — Sodium tetradecyl sulphate 3%, hypertonic saline , polidocanol › MOA — Causes aseptic inflammation, cause approximation of the intima leading to obliteration by endothelial damage › Other techniques of sclerotherapy Microsclerotherapy Trans illumination microsclerotherapy Foam sclerotherapy ECHO sclerotherapy
› Contraindications of sclerotherapy — SF incompetance DVT Huge varicosities Advantages OPD procedure No requirement of anaesthesia Disadvantage Anaphylaxis ,hyperpigmentation
Surgical › Trendelenburq operation — juxtafemoral flush ligation where saphaneous vein is ligated at SF junction and LSV stripping is done. Stripping of vein — Using Myer's strippers, Complications — Injuries to saphaneous nerve. Stripping is not done usually for veins in the lower part of leg in LSV
heno liteal › Li ation of the SSV at sa junction Stab Avulsion Techni ue › Subfascial li ation of Cockett & Dodd › Subfascial endosco ic erforator sur er
VARICOSE VEIN — EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) Patient Suitability Reasonably straight veins Recurrent Varicose veins following ligation alone › Mechanism of Action Heat generated by laser produces steam bubbles that cause thermal damage to endothelium and sub endothelial layer resulting in focal coagulative necrosis and shrinkage leading to thrombotic occlusion of the vein
EVLA ENDOVENOUS LASER ABLATION ( A guide- wire positioned precisely by usirg u#rasound guidmce osiio ed o ve n u uhrasound iJllrasDund probe used to guide the vmoe opealon very precisely \m.Veins.co.uk Laser fibre protruding frs sheath - laser closes vein permanently Local Anaesthetic /tJmesence) around vein being treated EVLA sheath passed over the wire, then the laser fibre is passed up inside sheath a www.Veins.co.uk 2 Vein c To ae d by EVLA is deslioyel by heat — this deals by "fibrosis " — which means lhe digesb the dead vein, preventing e- growth by neovasculansation ”’ " “ ’ eath and fibre hd rawn wnn/v.Veins.co.uk
ADVANTAGES Day Care procedure Avoids GA No Scars Rapid Recovery
› Complications of surgery › — Infection › — DVT › — Haematoma formation Nerve injuries Recurrence