DEFINITION Acute and chronic venous disease includes a number of conditions.

Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins do not efficiently return blood from the lower limbs back to the heart. 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, the 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, occuring 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-mentioned symptoms due to accumulation of blood degradation products in the skin.

Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted, painful superficial veins resulting from poorly functioning valves.

TREATMENT These conditions can be corrected surgically.

BENEFITS There are dramatic benefits to Minimally Invasive Vascular Surgery. Surgery without major incision minimizes tissue damage allowing for a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time. Patients also enjoy reduced post-operative pain and less scarring than open surgery.

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