Venous Disease

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) occurs due to inadequate functioning of venous wall and/or valves in lower limb veins resulting in excessive pooling of blood.

Pathology

The condition results from venous hypertension which in turn is usually caused by reflux in the superficial venous compartment. Less common causes include:

- deep venous compression

- post-thrombotic stenosis or occlusion

- deep venous reflux

- venous hypertension caused by vascular malformations, arteriovenous fistulae, and neuromuscular disorders (rare)

Plain radiograph

Findings are non-specific but most commonly are seen in the leg:

- solid undulating periosteal reaction, often symmetrical

- dystrophic soft tissue calcification

- varicose vein phleboliths

- soft tissue swelling from subcutaneous edema

Venous Doppler ultrasound

Considered the primary imaging modality of choice. Typically the great saphenous vein and the small saphenous vein and their primary tributaries are assessed. 

The presence of reflux is determined by the direction of flow because any significant flow toward the feet is suggestive of reflux. The duration of reflux is known as the "reflux time" (replacing the commonly used "valve closure time"). Venous duplex imaging may provide information about local valve function to construct an anatomic map of disease in terms of the systems and levels of involvement. 

The presence and location of perforators are also documented. The patient should be able to stand for this procedure.