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vein clinic - assessment of vein problems

assessment of vein problems

Patients present with either visible Spider Veins or Varicose Veins, symptoms related to Varicose Veins or complications of Venous Disease.

For patients presenting with visible Spider Veins and Varicose Veins usually there is some degree of symptomatology which is related to the underlying venous abnormality. These patients are therefore thoroughly interviewed and usually subjected to a Duplex Ultrasound Scan of the leg to determine if any venous incompetence is present. If venous incompetence is present then treatment of the visible veins is not adequate as the problem will reoccur. The underlying problem must be treated at the same time.

Those patients presenting with symptoms will usually have one or more of the following; aching, pain, discomfort and heaviness of the legs, restless legs, swelling especially around the ankle at the end of the day, itchiness of areas of skin of the leg and cramping especially nocturnal. These symptoms usually improve with treatment of the underlying venous problem. A duplex ultrasound scan in this case will be able to determine whether the symptoms are likely to be related to the venous problem or not.

Complications that patients may present with secondary to varicose veins include skin damage ranging from Dermatitis to Eczema to Venous Ulceration, Superficial Thrombophlebitis, Deep Vein Thrombosis and Post Phlebetic Limb. Just like the group with symptoms this group of patients requires assessment and investigation for the underlying venous problem, this includes thorough clinical examination and duplex ultrasonography and may require temporary graduated compression stockings prior to definitive therapy, superficial thrombophlebitis is likewise investigated and treated with anti-inflammatories and sometimes antibiotics and deep vein thrombosis is treated with compression stockings and anti-coagulants.