In varicose veins (synonyms: Leg varicosis; varicose veins; varicosis; varicose congestion; vein ectasia; venous nodule; ICD-10 I83.-: Varicose veins of the lower extremities) are sac-shaped or cylindrically dilated and tortuous superficial veins. They pose an increased risk for other venous diseases.
Varicose veins are among the most common diseases of the leg veins.
Varicosis can be divided into:
- Primary varicosis – the most common form with 95%; idiopathic with no apparent cause.
- Secondary varicosis – 5% of cases; occurs after phlebothrombosis (thrombosis (occlusion) of a deep vein in the leg), as blood return then takes place via the superficial veins and these are thus dilated
Primary varicosis can again be divided into several types:
- Truncal varicosis – in this form, the two main veins of the superficial system (great saphenous vein and saphenous vein parva) are affected
- Side branch varicosis – here side branches are affected by congestion of blood in the main veins.
- Reticular varicosis – this is phlebectasia (uniform diffuse dilatation of veins without tortuosity) in the subcutaneous fat tissue.
- Perforansvarikosis – the connecting veins between the deep and superficial venous system are dilated
- Spider varicosis – small reddish-bluish veins, which are usually the first sign of venous disease.
Sex ratio: males to females is 1: 3.
Frequency peak: the disease occurs with increasing age clustered. The initial manifestation (first appearance of the disease) is in the 3rd decade of life.
The prevalence (disease incidence) is 20% of adults. In Germany, the number of people suffering from venous disease is more than 30 million.
Course and prognosis: Often the course of varicose veins is harmless. The prognosis is better the sooner something is done about the bluish shimmering veins. If left untreated, varicose veins take a progressive course. Large superficial varices are usually removed surgically. Varicose veins are often recurrent (recurring). The recurrence rate after sclerotherapy is > 50% within 5 years. If surgery was performed, the recurrence rate is only 5%.
The lethality rate (mortality rate in relation to the total number of patients with the disease) after varicose vein surgery is 0.02%.
Comorbidities (concomitant diseases): varicoceles (varicose veins of the venous plexus pampiniformis/a venous plexus formed by the veins of the testis and epididymis) are 4.71 times more likely to be present in patients with varicoceles compared with control subjects without varicoceles.
