Venous stasis explained

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
• Id reactions^[1]

Causes

Causes^[2] 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.^[3]
• Long periods of immobility that can be encountered from driving,^[4] 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.^{[5] [6] [7]}
• Weakened Venous valves: these are crucial towards ensuring upward flow to the heart from the lower extremities. If weakened, they may fail to close properly which leads to backwards blood flow/blood pooling. This can lead to slower blood flow in the veins. ^[8]

Ultrasonography-Doppler ultrasound

See also

• Virchow's triad

References

1. 2019-04-20 . Autosensitization dermatitis: A case of rosacea-like id reaction. 6479112 . en . Ferree . S. D. . Yang . C. . Kourosh . A. S. . JAAD Case Reports . 5 . 5 . 410–412 . 10.1016/j.jdcr.2019.02.029 . 31049383 .
2. Web site: 2021-08-08 . Chronic Venous Insufficiency . 2022-11-17 . www.hopkinsmedicine.org . en.
3. Zhu. Ruiqi. Hu. Yu. Tang. Liang. Reduced cardiac function and risk of venous thromboembolism in Asian countries. Thrombosis Journal. 15. 1. 2017. 12. 1477-9560. 10.1186/s12959-017-0135-3. 28450810. 5404284. free.
4. Book: Pharmacotherapy Handbook. Barbara G. Wells . Joseph T. DiPiro . Terry L. Schwinghammer . Gary R. Matzke . Gary C. Yee . Robert L. Talbert . L. Michael Posey . 163. McGraw-Hill Professional. 2008 . 9780071485012.
5. Web site: 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 . 7 February 2012 . American College of Chest Physicians . 10 February 2012 . 18 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131018032407/http://www.chestnet.org/News/ACCP-Clinical-News/2012/02/ACCP-Antithrombotic-and-Economy-Class-Syndrome . dead .
6. Book: Hecht, M. E.. A practical guide to hip surgery: from pre-op to recovery . 2010. Sunrise River Press. 978-1-934716-12-0.
7. Gould MK, Garcia DA, Wren SM, etal . 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 . 10.1378/chest.11-2297 . 22315263 . 3278061.
8. Web site: Understanding Venous Reflux - the cause of varicose veins and venous leg ulcers. Whiteley MS. 2011. January 8, 2015. Whiteley Publishing. https://web.archive.org/web/20171025190133/http://www.markwhiteley.co.uk/books-mark-whiteley.php. October 25, 2017.