Chronic venous insufficiency

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Chronic venous insufficiency
Other names	Chronic venous disease
Mild chronic venous insufficiency, with increased pigmentation of the lower legs.
Specialty	Vascular surgery

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a medical condition characterized by blood pooling in the veins, leading to increased pressure and strain on the vein walls.^[1] The most common cause of CVI is superficial venous reflux, which often results in the formation of varicose veins, a treatable condition.^[2] Since functional venous valves are necessary to facilitate efficient blood return from the lower extremities, CVI primarily affects the legs.

When impaired vein function leads to significant symptoms such as oedema (swelling) or venous ulcer formation, the condition is referred to as chronic venous disease.^[3] It is also known as chronic peripheral venous insufficiency and should not be confused with post-thrombotic syndrome, a separate condition caused by damage to the deep veins following deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Most cases of CVI can be managed or improved through treatments targeting the superficial venous system or stenting the deep venous system. For instance, varicose veins are often treated using minimally invasive endovenous laser treatment performed under local anesthesia.

CVI is more prevalent in women than men, and additional risk factors include genetics, smoking, obesity, pregnancy, and prolonged standing.^[4][5][6]