Venous ulcers causes Archives - Avis Vascular Centre Venous ulcers causes Archives - Avis Vascular Centre WhatsApp
The Connection Between Blood cloths and Varicose Veins
admin FAQS & Myths

The Connection Between Blood Clots and Varicose Veins

Varicose veins and blood clots are two venous conditions that often coexist and can significantly impact vascular health. While varicose veins are frequently regarded as a cosmetic concern, they may signal underlying venous insufficiency, predisposing individuals to thrombotic events. Understanding the relationship between varicose veins and blood clots is crucial for effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Varicose Veins: An Overview

Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous superficial veins resulting from venous insufficiency. They commonly appear blue or dark purple and are predominantly found in the lower extremities. The pathophysiology involves valvular incompetence, leading to venous hypertension and venous stasis. This condition is often associated with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which further exacerbates venous dysfunction.

Blood Clots: Understanding Thrombosis

Blood clots, or thrombi, form when blood coagulates within the vascular system. While clotting is essential to prevent hemorrhage, pathological thrombosis within veins can be dangerous. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) refers to clots in deep veins, often in the legs, which can lead to life-threatening complications if embolization occurs, such as pulmonary embolism (PE).

Pathophysiological Connection Between Varicose Veins and Blood Clots

The interplay between varicose veins and thrombus formation is multifaceted:

  1. Venous Stasis

Venous insufficiency associated with varicose veins results in blood pooling, or stasis, within the venous system. This stasis is a well-known component of Virchow’s triad, which describes the three primary factors contributing to thrombosis: venous stasis, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulability.

  1. Endothelial Dysfunction and Inflammation

Varicose veins induce chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction within the venous wall. These inflammatory processes can activate the coagulation cascade, increasing the risk of thrombus formation.

  1. Chronic Venous Insufficiency

CVI, commonly accompanying varicose veins, involves prolonged venous hypertension, further promoting thrombotic risk by sustaining an environment conducive to clot formation.

Risk Factors

Several factors predispose individuals to both varicose veins and thrombotic events:

  • Age: Advancing age correlates with decreased venous elasticity and valvular competence.
  • Genetic Predisposition: A family history of venous disorders increases susceptibility.
  • Prolonged Immobility: Extended periods of sitting or standing enhance venous stasis.
  • Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and increased venous pressure during pregnancy contribute to venous dilation and stasis.
  • Obesity: Excessive body weight exerts additional pressure on the venous system.
  • Hormonal Therapy: Hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives can elevate thrombotic risk.

Clinical Manifestations

Recognizing the clinical signs of both varicose veins and thrombotic events is imperative for timely intervention:

  • Varicose Veins: Visible dilated veins, leg discomfort, heaviness, pruritus, and skin changes such as hyperpigmentation or lipodermatosclerosis.
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis: Unilateral leg swelling, erythema, pain or tenderness, and warmth in the affected limb.

Preventive Measures

  • Compression Therapy: Graduated compression stockings enhance venous return and reduce stasis.
  • Regular Physical Activity: Exercise improves overall vascular health and circulation.
  • Leg Elevation: Elevating the legs facilitates venous return and alleviates pressure.
  • Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight minimizes venous pressure.

Medical and Interventional Treatments

  • Sclerotherapy: Injection of a sclerosant into varicose veins induces fibrosis and vein closure.
  • Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT): Laser energy applied endovenously causes vein ablation.
  • Pharmacotherapy: Anticoagulants are prescribed for the prevention and treatment of DVT.
  • Surgical Interventions: Vein stripping or ligation may be necessary for severe varicosities.

The connection between varicose veins and blood clots underscores the importance of comprehensive venous health management. Individuals with varicose veins should be vigilant for thrombotic symptoms and seek medical consultation for appropriate evaluation and treatment. Through a combination of lifestyle modifications, pharmacologic interventions, and potentially surgical procedures, the risks associated with varicose veins and blood clots can be effectively managed, ensuring better vascular health and overall well-being.

Understanding Venous Ulcers Causes, and Complications
admin Vascular Diseases

Understanding Venous Ulcers: Causes, and Complications

Venous ulcers, also known as venous stasis ulcers or varicose ulcers, are wounds that occur on the lower legs due to poor circulation of blood in the veins. These ulcers can be painful, slow to heal, and significantly affect a person’s quality of life. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes and complications of venous ulcers, discuss the impact of smoking on the condition, and delve into how interventional treatments can help patients.

How are Venous Ulcers formed?

Venous ulcers typically develop when there is a malfunction in the valves of the veins in the legs, leading to a condition called venous insufficiency. Normally, these valves help prevent blood from flowing backward, but when they fail, blood pools in the veins, causing increased pressure. Over time, this pressure can damage the surrounding tissues, resulting in the formation of ulcers.

Common risk factors for venous ulcers include:

Varicose Veins: Enlarged, twisted veins near the surface of the skin.

Obesity: Excess weight puts added pressure on the veins.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity can impair circulation.

History of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Blood clots in the deep veins of the legs.

Age: Venous ulcers are more common in older individuals.

Family History: Genetics may predispose some individuals to venous insufficiency.

Complications of Venous Ulcers:

Venous ulcers can lead to various complications, including:

Infection: Open wounds increase the risk of bacterial infection, which can lead to cellulitis or even sepsis if left untreated.

Pain and Discomfort: Ulcers can cause significant pain, especially when walking or standing.

Reduced Mobility: Pain and discomfort may limit mobility, affecting daily activities and quality of life.

Delayed Healing: Poor circulation and underlying vein issues can impede the healing process, leading to chronic wounds.

Is there an Impact of Smoking on Ulcers?

Smoking is known to have detrimental effects on cardiovascular health, including impairing blood circulation. Individuals who smoke are at higher risk of developing venous ulcers and experiencing complications. Smoking restricts blood flow and decreases oxygen levels in the blood, exacerbating the already compromised circulation in individuals with venous insufficiency. Moreover, smoking delays wound healing and increases the likelihood of infection, making it harder for venous ulcers to heal.

Interventional Treatment Options:

Interventional treatments aim to address the underlying causes of venous ulcers and promote wound healing. These may include:

Compression Therapy: Applying compression stockings or bandages helps improve blood flow and reduce swelling in the legs, aiding in ulcer healing.

Endovenous Ablation: A minimally invasive procedure that uses heat or laser energy to close off malfunctioning veins, redirecting blood flow to healthier vessels.

Sclerotherapy: Injection of a special solution into the affected veins, causing them to collapse and eventually disappear.

Surgical Repair: In severe cases or when other treatments are ineffective, surgery may be necessary to repair or remove damaged veins.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of venous ulcers, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly to prevent complications and improve quality of life. Call us today, and talk to our expert doctors.

Venous Skin Ulcers – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
admin Vascular Diseases

Venous Skin Ulcers – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Skin ulcers are wounds or open sores that develop on the surface of the skin and take enormous time to heal. Venous skin ulcers are a type of skin ulcer that is caused due to a venous disorder like chronic venous insufficiency.

Venous skin ulcers, also commonly referred to as venous leg ulcers are shallow wounds that develop on the lower region of the legs, especially on the sides of the legs, above the ankle and below the calf.

The prevalent cause of venous skin ulcers is the failure of the leg veins to send the used and deoxygenated blood back to the heart. The blood remains pooled in the veins and the surrounding tissues of the lower leg region. This creates additional pressure in the legs and in cases where the treatment is delayed, the excessive fluid breaks out from the tissues and eventually causes an open sore or an ulcer in the affected area.

Also called Statis Legs Ulcers, these ulcers may take anywhere between a few weeks to a few years to heal due to poor blood circulation in the damaged area. A delay in treatment can, however, lead to other severe health complications as well. There are always high chances of recurrence if you do not take the desired precautions after the treatment.

What causes them?

Leg veins that become weak and incapable of sending the used blood back to the heart are the main cause of venous skin ulcers. Below mentioned are the most common causes of venous leg ulcers:

  • Varicose veins
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clot in the deep veins of the legs)
  • Old age, being tall, being a female
  • Obesity
  • Smoking 
  • Pregnancy
  • Lack of exercise
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Daily work that requires long hours of standing or sitting
  • Previous leg injuries
  • Family history of blood clots or venous insufficiency

What are the symptoms?

By being aware of the early signs and easy to recognize symptoms of venous leg ulcers, you can self-diagnose them and schedule an appointment with a vascular specialist for treatment and prevention.

Following are some of the early signs of venous leg ulcers:

  1. Itching or burning sensation on the skin of the affected area
  2. Dry skin accompanied by a rash
  3. Skin discoloration where the skin turns brown and looks pale
  4. A feeling of heaviness in the lower region of the legs
  5. The affected area may even become swollen

Below mentioned are the symptoms of an open sore that is actually a venous leg ulcer:

  1. Shallow sore that has a red base, may sometimes be covered by a yellow tissue
  2. Unevenly shaped borders of the ulcer
  3. The skin turns hard and tight around the ulcer
  4. The surrounded skin also turns red in colour
  5. The affected area feels warm and looks shinny

Some venous leg ulcers become infected and have the following signs and symptoms in addition to the above ones:

  1. Worsening pain
  2. Fever
  3. Pus drain from the wound
  4. A foul-smelling fluid oozing out from the open sore

How are they diagnosed?

If you have a wound on the leg that is not healing or has got infected, you must immediately visit a vascular expert. The specialist will physically examine the open sore and the skin around it, and will also ask some questions to learn about you and your family’s medical history.

The doctor will then conduct a Duplex Doppler Ultrasound Scan to find out the exact reason for the ulcer. This examination clearly shows how the blood is moving in the lower leg region and what is hindering its movement back to the heart.

The vascular expert may recommend a few other tests to check other problems related to varicose veins and to re-examine the ulcer to ensure it is healing properly.

What are the treatment options?

The most basic form of treatment and recovery involves improving the blood flow in the affected region as this will help repair the wound quickly.

There are a few things that you can do to treat the venous skin ulcers. Make a note of them below:

  1. Use compression stockings as they help prevent blood pooling and create additional pressure on the legs. This will in-turn improve blood circulation in the lower leg region thus enhancing the body’s ability to heal the ulcer.
  2. You must elevate your legs above your heart level as frequently as possible. Lie down on your bed and use a pillow or two to lift your legs up to the level of the heart. Vascular experts usually suggest a minimum of half-an-hour for at least 3 to 4 times a day.
  3. Make an everyday walk routine as walking enhances the blood circulation of the body. This clubbed with low impact exercises can also work wonders for the recovery process of your venous leg ulcers.
  4. If your ulcer has got infected, the doctor will prescribe some antibiotics to kill the infection. The vascular expert might also suggest a moist dressing on the wound to fasten its healing.
  5. In a few critical cases, doctors will immediately recommend surgery or endovenous laser ablation to treat the underlying cause of blood pooling as that may be preventing the wound from healing.

Usually, a venous leg ulcer requires 3-4 months to heal. A few may heal quicker while some may never clean-up.

As soon as you see the first signs of a statis leg ulcer, consult your vascular expert immediately to prevent the ulcer from forming or growing bigger in size, as smaller and new ulcers are easier to heal than the larger ones.

What to do next?

If you or someone you know has one or more of the above symptoms, you must not delay a medical check-up with the vascular experts at Avis Hospitals. All doctors at Avis Hospitals are through professionals, have years of experience, and believe in 100% customer satisfaction.

Avis Hospitals will not only guide you with the most genuine and authentic advise for your health but also take the extra steps to ensure your well-being. Pledge to take care of your vein health and book a timely treatment for your venous leg ulcers to prevent other medical complications. Schedule an appointment with Avis Hospitals today!