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Suffering from Skin Alterations Associated with Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Decent Essays
Vein Disease According to the Vascular Disease Foundation (2014), six million people suffer from skin alterations associated with chronic venous insufficiency. As clinicians, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of vein disease in order to identify an appropriate course of care and assist patients with prevention of complications. Vein disease has many risk factors that are not modifiable such as age, gender, and family history. There are risk factors that are such as inactivity, obesity, and intravenous drug use that are modifiable behaviors that can be managed to prevent further decline. Prompt identification and intervention to prevent further deterioration is the goal. This paper will review the pathophysiology of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and arterial thrombosis. Additionally, the influence of patient’s behavior as it relates to the pathogenesis of vein disease will be reviewed.
Pathophysiology
CVI is “inadequate venous return over a long period” (Huether & McCance, 2012, p. 586). The veins have valve that help with the flow of blood back to the heart. When these valves become damaged, the blood begins to back up and remain in the vein. When the vein walls become weakened, this can lead to sluggish venous return. The formation of deoxygenated blood will remain in the venous system without becoming useful to the body. This leads to “venous hypertension, circulatory stasis, and tissue hypoxia” (Huether &
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