Understanding Venous Insufficiency

What Is Venous Insufficiency

Venous insufficiency is a broad term that describes a condition where the leg veins are unable to effectively pump blood back to the heart. Venous insufficiency can range from being mild to severe, and if left untreated, it may progress to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Chronic venous insufficiency represents a more serious and longer-lasting version of venous insufficiency, and carries with it the potential for greater complications.

Venous insufficiency is a form of venous disease and is the result of valve dysfunction, which occurs when the leg veins are unable to effectively pump blood back to the heart. Venous insufficiency is a milder form of venous disease, but if venous insufficiency exists and is left untreated, it may progress into chronic venous insufficiency which represents a deeper, more serious, and longer-lasting version of venous insufficiency and carries with it the potential for greater medical and health complications. While both venous insufficiency and chronic venous insufficiency are conditions related to veins in the leg, venous insufficiency affects the superficial veins, which are closer to the skin, while chronic venous insufficiency affects veins which are deeper and lie below the muscle layer.