Patient Information

How is Venous Insufficiency treated?

Gradient compression stockings help prevent the veins in your legs from becoming overly filled with blood (congested). Veins that are congested with blood make your legs feel heavy. They may ache and fatigue easily. These stockings act to prevent leg swelling by counteracting pressures inside the leg and promoting blood flow back to the heart rather than allowing blood to pool in the legs. Compression squeezes the legs. This can be achieved by special bandaging, gradient compression stockings, or special air pumps.

Venous Insuffienciency is often accompanied by edema and decreased oxygen and nutrient composites in tissue. Since lymph drainage can be augmented by external pressure, proximal venous flow also benefits from external compression, the use of pneumatic compression devices to treat venous insufficiency has proven highly successful. Pumping promotes cutaneous circulation, which increases the oxygen content of tissues.

Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

STAGE 1:
Gradient elastic stockings
Skin care

STAGE 2:
Gradient elastic stockings
Skin care
Topical steroids for dermatitis
Surgical consultation
STAGE 3:
Gradient elastic stockings
Ulcer care (a)Antiseptic solution (b)Bio-occlusive dressings
Pneumatic, gradient compression pump therapy