Venous stasis

Medical condition
Venous stasis
Other namesVenostasis
Skin changes as a result of long term venous stasis

Venous stasis, or venostasis, is a condition of slow blood flow in the veins, usually of the legs.

Presentation

Complications

Potential complications of venous stasis are:

  • Venous ulcers
  • Blood clot formation in veins (venous thrombosis), that can occur in the deep veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) or in the superficial veins

Causes

Causes[1] of venous stasis include:

  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Previous damage to leg
  • Blood clot
  • Smoking
  • Swelling and inflammation of a vein close to the skin
  • Congestive heart failure.[2]
  • Long periods of immobility that can be encountered from driving,[3] flying, bed rest/hospitalization, or having an orthopedic cast. Recommendations by clinicians to reduce venous stasis and DVT/PE often encourage increasing walking, calf exercises, and intermittent pneumatic compression when possible.[4][5][6]

Diagnosis

See also

  • Virchow's triad

References

  1. ^ "Chronic Venous Insufficiency". www.hopkinsmedicine.org. 2021-08-08. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  2. ^ Zhu, Ruiqi; Hu, Yu; Tang, Liang (2017). "Reduced cardiac function and risk of venous thromboembolism in Asian countries". Thrombosis Journal. 15 (1): 12. doi:10.1186/s12959-017-0135-3. ISSN 1477-9560. PMC 5404284. PMID 28450810.
  3. ^ Barbara G. Wells; Joseph T. DiPiro; Terry L. Schwinghammer; Gary R. Matzke; Gary C. Yee; Robert L. Talbert; L. Michael Posey (2008). Pharmacotherapy Handbook. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 163. ISBN 9780071485012.
  4. ^ "New DVT guidelines: no evidence to support "economy class syndrome"; oral contraceptives, sitting in a window seat, advanced age, and pregnancy increase DVT risk in long-distance travelers". American College of Chest Physicians. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  5. ^ Hecht, M. E. (2010). A practical guide to hip surgery: from pre-op to recovery. Sunrise River Press. ISBN 978-1-934716-12-0.
  6. ^ Gould MK, Garcia DA, Wren SM, et al. (2012). "Prevention of VTE in nonorthopedic surgical patients: antithrombotic therapy and prevention of thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines". Chest. 141 (suppl 2): e227S–e277S. doi:10.1378/chest.11-2297. PMC 3278061. PMID 22315263.