Deep varicose veins are a very unpleasant and quite dangerous lesion of the venous vessels of the circulatory system.
Varicose veins of the deep veins of the lower extremities is a pathology that extends to the vessels passing through the muscular structures of the legs.The lengthening and expansion of venous vessels significantly hinders blood flow and causes the formation and progression of thrombosis.
The danger of this disease lies in the high probability that the blood clot that forms on the wall of the blood vessel will break off and be transferred to the pulmonary artery.
When this disease appears, there is an irreversible process of lengthening and expansion of venous vessels.As the process progresses, thinning of the vein wall is observed and knots are formed that prevent the free transport of blood through the vessels.
Most often, people aged 30-40 years and older are susceptible to this disease.
Causes of the development of varicose veins of the deep veins of the lower extremities
The causes of the appearance and development of the disease can be various unfavorable factors.Varicose veins of the deep veins are the result of a serious disturbance of the circulatory process in a certain area of the lower extremities.
As the disease progresses, the patient may develop trophic ulcers in the place where the circulatory processes are disturbed, which can cause gangrene, a condition that requires amputation of the affected part of the limb.
In addition, varicose veins can cause deformation of the muscles of the lower extremities, and the formation of a blood clot with its possible subsequent detachment and transport to the pulmonary artery can lead to death.
The main factors that contribute to the onset of the disorder and its progression are the following:
- the presence of a genetically determined hereditary predisposition that leads to congenital pathologies and weakness of the cells of the walls of venous vessels;
- gender - women get sick much more often than men, which is related to the onset of hormonal changes during pregnancy, the onset of menopause and in the case of the use of hormonal drugs and contraceptives;
- the presence of increased venous pressure in the patient, which is a consequence of reduced mobility and an increase in the degree of static overload when the body is in an upright position for a long time and with excess body weight;
In addition, the causes of the disease can be:
- Regularly increased load on the limbs.
- Serious disorders in the functioning of the immune system.
- Constant compression of the blood vessels in the legs when wearing tight shoes.
- Overweight or obesity.
- Development of different forms of dermatitis.
- Consequences of surgical interventions.
- Exposure of the lower limbs to increased static loads.
- Alcohol abuse and smoking.
In addition, cellulite can cause the development of pathology.
A visit to a qualified phlebologist at the first suspicion of the disease allows you to recognize the disease in a timely manner.
The main signs of varicose veins of deep veins
Most often, in the initial stage of progression, the disease is manifested by the appearance of a feeling of slight fatigue in the legs after a long-term static load or during a long walk.In addition, during this period, a slight swelling of the tissues of the extremities appears.
Most often, these symptoms of the disorder appear at the end of the day and gradually disappear with prolonged rest.When these signs appear, it is necessary to consult a phlebologist and conduct special studies to identify and clarify the presence of pathology.
The use of laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods allows us to identify the stage of disease development and make a decision on the use of timely and adequate treatment of the disease.With further progression of the disease, it passes into an advanced stage, characterized by the appearance of a whole series of symptoms and signs characteristic of a progressive disease.
Advanced stages of pathology are characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms:
- the appearance of severe pain in the legs in the evening and at night;
- the appearance of constant swelling of soft tissues and heaviness in the lower extremities;
- the presence of constant swelling of soft tissues leads to an increase in the size of the limbs;
- the patient experiences frequent cramps in the calf area, most often such phenomena occur at night;
- the skin in the affected areas acquires a bluish tint on the extremities;
- During physical exertion of the legs, protrusions of pathologically affected venous vessels appear on the feet, thighs and legs.
Further progression of the disease leads to the appearance of small wounds that cannot heal for a long time and later transform into trophic ulcers.
In the absence of adequate and timely treatment, the development of the disease can be fatal for the patient.The progression of varicose veins leads to the gradual deformation of muscle structures and the appearance of negative changes in the skin and bone mass.
With prolonged progression, the patient develops signs of eczema and develops trophic ulcers that can develop into gangrene.Which leads to sepsis or death.
In venous vessels affected by varicose veins, the process of thrombus formation develops.As a result of this process, the formed blood clot can be separated and transported through the circulatory system.
When a blood clot enters a pulmonary artery, it becomes blocked and the person dies.
Basic diagnostic methods
An experienced phlebologist can determine the presence of varicose veins in the deep veins of the lower extremities by characteristic symptoms, clearly visible even on a photo of the legs, but the methods of treatment of the disease are selected individually after a detailed examination of the patient and taking into account all the individual characteristics of his body.
In order to determine the presence and stage of disease development, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods are used.Laboratory methods include general blood and urine tests.
The most common instrumental diagnostic method is the use of ultrasound examination of the venous vessels of the legs.This technique allows you to visualize the vascular system and identify the degree of progression of the pathological process.
In addition, if necessary, the attending physician prescribes:
- Phlebography.
- Photoplethysmography.
The use of venous occlusive plethysmography enables determination of blood volume in the veins of the lower extremities.
Only after a comprehensive examination and obtained results, the patient is prescribed appropriate treatment.
Modern medicine offers several options for the treatment of diseases - medicinal, non-medicinal and surgical.
In parallel, after consultation with your doctor, you can use alternative and traditional methods of treatment at home.
Treatment of varicose veins of deep veins
The most reliable way to treat the disease is surgery.The use of drug therapy in the form of tablets, special ointments and gels for external application can have a complementary role and is actually supportive therapy.
The application of drug therapy involves the use of several types of drugs in the treatment process - anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, venotonic and fibrinolytic.
Anticoagulants thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots.Anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve inflammatory processes in the walls of venous vessels.Venotonics help increase the tone of the vein walls, and fibrinolytics help dissolve small clots and help clean the venous bed.
Thanks to the use of drugs, such manifestations of the disease as swelling usually disappear;in addition, an improvement in the condition of the surface skin is observed.The main condition for the use of drugs is strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations and compliance with the doses of the drugs taken.
For complete healing of varicose veins, surgical intervention is recommended.
In addition, surgical methods are used in the absence of positive dynamics during drug therapy.
The most common methods of surgical treatment of pathology are:
- Sclerotherapy;
- phlebectomy;
- laser coagulation.
Sclerotherapy involves the use of special substances during the procedure - sclerosants, which are introduced into the lumen of the affected vein and lead to adhesion of the blood vessel walls.This procedure allows you to remove the venous vessel from the circulatory system, which prevents the development of pathology.This technique is very rarely used in the case of detecting a severe form of the disorder.
Phlebectomy involves removing the affected area of the vein.Most often, this method is used to identify lesions of superficial veins, but in some cases it is applicable in the treatment of deep venous vessels of the extremities.
Laser coagulation is a type of minimally invasive surgical intervention and is performed with a laser;allows you to remove the affected area of the vein from the circulatory system by gluing its walls under the influence of laser radiation.This method of treatment received the most positive feedback from patients due to the fact that it is practically painless and does not require a long recovery period.
Using surgical methods of treatment allows you to completely get rid of the symptoms characteristic of deep varicose veins.The choice of surgical technique depends on the degree of development of the pathology, the individual characteristics of the patient and is carried out by the doctor.