heart and blood vessel disorders
Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Post Thrombotic Syndrome
Introduction
Chronic venous insufficiencyis damage to leg veins that prevents blood from flowing normally.Post-thrombotic syndromeis chronic venous insufficiency that results from a blood clot in the veins and causes symptoms. Chronic venous insufficiency may cause leg discomfort, swelling, and skin rash, discoloration, and/or ulcers. Post-thrombotic syndrome is chronic venous insufficiency that resulted from a blood clot in the veins ( Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) ). Doctors use duplex ultrasonography for diagnosis. Keeping the leg elevated, wearing compression stockings, and carefully treating any wounds are necessary for treatment. (See also Overview of the Venous System .) The number of people in the United States who have chronic venous insufficiency is unknown. Different studies have given estimates of the number of people affected, and those estimates vary greatly. Post-thrombotic syndrome may develop in 20 to 50% of people with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) , usually within 1 to 2 years. 