Venous Disease and Thrombosis

Venous Disease and Thrombosis

Venous Disease and Thrombosis

On this page

Varicose Veins & Anatomy - Leggy Lumps

  • Anatomy:
    • Superficial: GSV, SSV.
    • Deep: Femoral, Popliteal, Tibial.
    • Perforators: Connect superficial to deep. Leg Vein Anatomy: Superficial, Deep, Perforator Veins
  • Varicose Veins: Dilated, tortuous superficial veins.
    • Primary: Valvular incompetence.
    • Secondary: Post-DVT, AV fistula.
    • Risk Factors: Family Hx, Age, Female, Obesity, Prolonged standing, Pregnancy. 📌 FAME (Family Hx, Age, More women, ↑Venous pressure).
    • Pathophysiology: Valve failure → venous reflux → ↑venous pressure → dilation.
  • Clinical: Tortuous veins, aching, heaviness, edema, cramps.
  • Complications: Bleeding, thrombophlebitis, skin changes (lipodermatosclerosis), ulceration (medial malleolus).

⭐ Saphenofemoral junction incompetence is the most common cause of primary varicose veins.

Deep Vein Thrombosis - Clot Calamity

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the leg. 📌 VIRCHOW Mnemonic: Vascular damage, Increased coagulability, Reduced blood flow - Stasis, Clot Hx, OCP/HRT, Wt (obesity), Old age, W immobilization.

Virchow's Triad:

ComponentExamples
Endothelial InjuryTrauma, surgery, inflammation, previous DVT
StasisImmobilization (post-op, travel), paralysis, heart failure, obesity
HypercoagulabilityInherited (Factor V Leiden), Acquired (malignancy, OCPs, pregnancy, APLS)
  • Inherited: Factor V Leiden, Prothrombin gene mutation, Protein C/S deficiency, ATIII deficiency.
  • Acquired: Surgery, trauma, malignancy, OCPs/HRT, pregnancy, immobilization, Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APLS), age > 60.

⭐ Factor V Leiden mutation is the most common inherited thrombophilia predisposing to DVT.

Clinical Features: Often asymptomatic. Leg pain, swelling, warmth, tenderness. Homan's sign (unreliable).

Diagnosis:

  • Compression Ultrasound (CUS): Gold standard.

Deep vein thrombosis formation and embolization

Complications: Pulmonary Embolism (PE), Post-Thrombotic Syndrome (PTS), Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens (painful blue leg).

Pulmonary Embolism - Lung Blockers

  • Def: Obstruction of pulmonary artery/branches.
  • Source: >90% DVT (lower limbs).
  • Pathophysio: V/Q mismatch → hypoxemia; ↑pulm. vascular resistance → pulm. HTN → RV strain.
  • Types: Thrombus (most common), fat, air, amniotic fluid, tumor, septic.
  • Clinical: Sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, cough, hemoptysis. Tachycardia, tachypnea. Severe: syncope.
    • 📌 PE: Pleuritic pain, Expectoration (hemoptysis)
  • Diagnosis:
    • Scores: Wells score for PE, revised Geneva score.
    • D-dimer: Rules out PE if low probability & negative D-dimer.
    • CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA): Gold standard.
    • V/Q Scan: If CTPA contraindicated/inconclusive.
    • ECG: S1Q3T3 (classic but uncommon), sinus tachycardia.
    • Echo: RV dysfunction (e.g., McConnell's sign).
  • Lines of Zahn:

    ⭐ Lines of Zahn (alternating layers of platelets/fibrin & RBCs) indicate a thrombus formed in flowing blood (pre-mortem).

  • Severity:
    • Massive PE: Sustained hypotension (SBP <90 mmHg).
    • Submassive PE: RV dysfunction or myocardial necrosis (biomarkers) without systemic hypotension.

Other Venous Conditions & CVI - Vein Vexations

  • Superficial Thrombophlebitis: Superficial vein inflammation/thrombosis, often varicose.

  • Migratory Thrombophlebitis (Trousseau Syndrome): Malignancy-assoc. (pancreatic Ca). 📌 TROUSSEAU: Tumour Related OUtflow Stasis, Superficial Emboli, Adenocarcinoma Underlying.

    ⭐ Trousseau syndrome (migratory thrombophlebitis) is a paraneoplastic sign strongly associated with visceral adenocarcinomas, particularly pancreatic cancer.

  • SVC & IVC Syndromes:

    FeatureSVC SyndromeIVC Syndrome
    CausesLung cancer, lymphomaTumor, thrombus
    SignsFace/arm swell, dyspnea, plethoraLeg edema, ascites, caput medusae
  • Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI):

    • Patho: Venous HTN, valve damage, post-thrombotic.
    • Features: Edema, skin changes (pigment, lipodermatosclerosis), medial malleolus ulcer. Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) commonly affects leg veins; pulmonary embolism (PE) is its most feared complication.
  • Virchow's triad (stasis, hypercoagulability, endothelial injury) is fundamental to venous thrombogenesis.
  • Factor V Leiden mutation is the most common inherited cause of hypercoagulability, predisposing to DVT.
  • Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a significant acquired cause of recurrent venous or arterial thrombosis.
  • Elevated D-dimer has high sensitivity but low specificity; primarily used to rule out DVT/PE.
  • Trousseau syndrome (migratory thrombophlebitis) is often a paraneoplastic sign of visceral malignancy.
  • Chronic venous insufficiency can follow DVT, causing edema, stasis dermatitis, and ulceration.
Rezzy AI Tutor

Have doubts about this lesson?

Ask Rezzy, our AI tutor, to explain anything you didn't understand

Practice Questions: Venous Disease and Thrombosis

Test your understanding with these related questions

Which of the following is not a direct cause of varicose veins?

1 of 5

Flashcards: Venous Disease and Thrombosis

1/10

What is the most common pathology at the CCA bifurcation?_____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

What is the most common pathology at the CCA bifurcation?_____

Atheromas

browseSpaceflip

Enjoying this lesson?

Get full access to all lessons, practice questions, and more.

Start For Free
Venous Disease and Thrombosis | Vascular Pathology - OnCourse NEET-PG