VENOUS DISEASE OVERVIEW

What is DVT?

A DVT is a blood clot in a deep vein of the leg or arm. A DVT often occurs after an injury or surgery, especially during periods of inactivity. A DVT causes pain and swelling in the affected limb. DVTs can be dangerous as they provide a direct route to the central circulation, and if a blood clot breaks loose, it can travel to the heart and lungs, which can be serious or even life threatening. A DVT is diagnosed with an ultrasound and is often treated with blood thinners. Occasionally, a DVT will need intervention with clot busting drugs to treat and/or prevent long-term effects.

What is Peripheral Vascular Malformation?

A vascular malformation is an abnormal tangle or communication between blood vessels. They can be present in the brain or other parts of the nervous system, lungs, or other parts of the body. Vascular malformations can involve arteries, veins, or vessels of the lymph system. Vascular malformations can be visible on the surface of the body, or deep within. Vascular malformations can cause pain, swelling, bleeding, or strokes. Most vascular malformations are present from birth and may stay the same, grow or, occasionally, shrink with aging. Some types of vascular malformations can be hereditary and affect more than one area of the body.

What are Spider Veins and Varicose Veins ?

The most common vein problem is spider veins. These broken capillaries, properly named telangiectasias, are small red, blue or purple web-like veins on the surface of the skin and cause some people to be self-conscious. Spider veins are small, thin dilated veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. Although spider veins do not pose health risks, they can cause significant discomfort, particularly in the legs after prolonged standing.

Healthy veins return blood to the heart so it can be re-oxygenated. One-way valves within the veins ensure that the blood flows in one direction, towards the heart. When valves fail or leak, the blood flows backwards, causing blood to pool in the veins. The increased pressure from the pooling stretches the vein, causing enlarged, twisted blood vessels. The resulting bumpy, rope like veins are varicose veins. It normally takes years for symptoms of varicose veins to develop. While varicose veins are commonly inherited, anyone can get them. Hormonal changes brought on by puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, can trigger the onset of varicose veins.

What is Inferior Vena Cava Filter (IVC Filter)?

An inferior vena cava filter (IVC filter) is a type of vascular filter, a medical device that is implanted by interventional radiologists or vascular surgeons into the inferior vena cava to help prevent life-threatening pulmonary emboli (PEs). They are generally recommended in some high-risk scenarios.

What is TIPS?

A transjugular portosytemic shunt is a tract, or tunnel, created within the liver to connect two veins within the liver, the portal vein and the hepatic vein.

The portal vein carries blood to the liver from the stomach, intestines, and other gastrointestinal organs. The hepatic vein takes blood from the liver and returns it to the central circulation.