Common venous disorders include:

• Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when blood collects in the vein, causing swollen legs, skin discolouration and the formation of an ulcer in the leg (venous stasis ulcer). Chronic venous insufficiency manifests as varicose veins.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) develops when a thrombus, also known as a blood clot, forms in the body’s deep veins. DVT is likely to occur in the leg’s veins. As a result, patients with DVT experience pain in their legs and swollen legs. Phlebitis, inflammation of the vein, occurs as a result of deep vein thrombosis. Adjacent tissue also becomes inflamed, and oedema, a condition that causes swollen legs, accompanies DVT.
• Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when blood collects in the vein, causing swollen legs, skin discolouration and the formation of an ulcer in the leg (venous stasis ulcer).

SYMPTOMS

• Large, inflated veins
• The appearance of discoloured veins
• Heavy legs
• Swollen legs
• Itchiness above the affected veins

TREATMENT

Venous disorders can be treated non-surgically or surgically, depending on the extent of damage to the veins. Each treatment is designed to relieve symptoms and prevent further complications caused by venous disorders.

• Endothermal ablation utilises high-frequency sound waves or a high-powered laser to close the bulging veins. Dr Manyangadze places a catheter through the affected vein whereby high-powered sound waves or laser energy penetrates the walls of the varicose vein and seals the vein off.
• Anticoagulants are taken to dissolve the thrombus. Compression stockings and anti-inflammatories are also used.
• Leg elevation can help improve blood flow and reduce swelling in the affected limb. A combination of treatments such as leg elevation and compression stockings is used to treat chronic venous insufficiency.
• Sclerotherapy involves applying a type of foam inside the varicose vein using ultrasound and image guidance. Dr Manyangadze can seal off the varicose vein by using foam to scar the vein.
• Insertion of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter into a major vein in the neck or groin and finally into the body's most prominent vein, the vena cava. When a blood clot in the leg bursts, the IVC filter prevents the emboli from travelling to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.
• Surgical thrombectomy is a procedure to dissect a blood clot from the vein or artery.