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The Venous System

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Disorders of the Venous Systems The venous system of the lower extremities is composed of several veins that are superficial and deep. The sophisticated blood flow of the lower extremity consists of muscular venous pumps and bicuspid valves (Meissner, 2005). There are two major disorders of the lower venous system, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and deep venous thromboses (DVT). It is often assumed that disorders of the venous system are not relevant, but these disorders can, in fact, be more complex to treat than arterial diseases. The purpose of this paper is to examine the pathophysiology of CVI and DVT, diagnosis of the disorder, treatment of the disorder, comparison of both disease and risk factors that affect the incidence of …show more content…

CVI is a common problem with varicose veins that affect approximately 25 million adults in the United States suffer from CVI and are more than six million of these cases are reported to be severe cases of CVI (Eberhardt & Raffetto, 2014). When CVI occurs, there tends to be a dysfunction of the pumping system of the lower extremities. When obstruction takes place in the veins, it may limit the outflow of blood, thus causing increased in venous pressure when the muscles contract (Eberhardt & Raffetto, 2014). What causes a venous obstruction? Venous obstruction occurs from an intrinsic factor venous process, such as DVT or stenosis of the venous system (Eberhardt & Raffetto, 2014). The clinical manifestations of CVI range in variety and depend on pathogenesis: lower extremity pain, swelling, extremity tenderness, skin fibrosis, skin ulcerations and possibly skin hyperpigmentation (Eberhardt & Raffetto, …show more content…

Testing for DVT consist of serum blood testing for specific enzymes called D-Dimer which is a byproduct fibrinolysis; then it would suggest recent presence and lysis of thrombi (Douketis, 2016). Other diagnostic procedures include duplex ultrasonography of the affected limb to determine blood flow in the affected area and contrast venography. Treatment of DVT consists of anticoagulant therapy intravenously, subcutaneously flowed by oral anticoagulant therapy for maintenance, insertion of inferior vena cava filters, thrombolytic medications to dissolve the blood clot (Douketis, 2016). The last option for treatment of DVT is surgery which is rarely needed; thrombectomy is the surgical procedure where the clot is removed manually from the place of

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