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Venous insufficiency    See images

Overview

Alternative names:

Chronic venous insufficiency

Definition:

A condition in which the blood vessels do not channel blood flow properly and fail to return blood efficiently to the heart, which is channeled away from the heart by arteries.

Venous insufficiency involves one or more veins. The valves in the veins usually channel the flow of blood toward the heart. When these valves are damaged, blood leaks and pools in the legs and feet. Symptoms include swelling of the legs and pain in the extremities (dull aching, heaviness, or cramping).

Chronic venous insufficiency is a prolonged condition of incompetent venous circulation. It occurs because of partial vein blockage or venous valve leakage. Chronic venous insufficiency can cause discoloration of the skin of the ankles in addition to the above symptoms from accumulation of blood degradation products in the skin.

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