Varicose veins

Question 1

What are varicose veins?

Answer 1

Distended superficial veins measuring more than 3mm in diameter

Question 2

Reticular veins?

Answer 2

Dilated blood vessels in the skin measuring less than 1-3mm diameter

Question 3

Telangiectasia?

Answer 3

Refers to dilated blood vessels in th eskin measuring less than 1mm in diameter

Question 4

How do varicose veins develop?

Answer 4

When the valves in perforating veins are incompetent blood flows from the deep veins into the superficial veins and overloads them= dilation and engorgement of them= varicose veins

Question 5

Why is there a brown discolouration to the lower legs in chronic venous insufficiency?

Answer 5

When blood pools in the distal veins pressure causes the veins to leak a small amount of blood into the tissues.
Hameglobin breaks down the haemosiderin= brown colour in shins

The skin and soft tissues become fibrotic and tight= legs to become narrow and hard= lipodermatosclerosis

Question 6

What does a tap test find and suggest?

Answer 6

Apply pressure to the saphenofemoral junction and tap the distal vein- feeling for a thrill at the SFJ= incompetent valves between the varicose vein and SFJ

Question 7

What is the cough test for varicose veins?

Answer 7

Apply pressure to the SFJ and ask patient to cough- feeling for thrills at the SFJ
A thril= a dilated vein at the SFJ= saphenous varix

Question 8

A test that assess the levels of the incompetent valve causing a varicose vein?

Answer 8

Trendelenburg’s test

Question 9

Surgical options for varicose veins?

Answer 9

Endothermal ablation- inserting a catheter into the vein to apply radiofrequency ablation

Sclerotherapy- injecting the vein with an irritant foam that causes closure of the vein

Stripping- the veins are ligated and pulled ou the leg