Venous Dysfunction Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards focused on venous dysfunction, including chronic venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, and varicose veins, based on clinical notes.

Virchow’s triad

The three factors contributing to venous dysfunction: hypercoagulability (increased clot formation), venous stasis (prolonged immobilization), and damage to the endothelial lining.

D-Dimer

A lab test with high sensitivity ( ~$100\%$) and negative predictive value ( ~$100\%$) used for the detection of venous thromboembolism.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

A condition where veins cannot push blood back to the heart, resulting in blood pooling in the leg, which can develop from varicosities, DVT, or phlebitis.

Atrophie blanche

Hypopigmented atrophic areas with telangiectasia (clusters of red/purple capillaries) and red dots, seen in chronic venous insufficiency.

Hemosiderin deposits

The cause of brown hyperpigmentation of the skin in cases of chronic venous insufficiency.

Medial malleolus

The specific anatomical site where painless, wet ulcers particularly occur in chronic venous insufficiency.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Blood clotting occurring in deep leg veins such as the iliofemoral, popliteal, and femoral veins.

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens

An extreme complication of DVT characterized by a blue, painful, swollen leg and the possibility of venous gangrene.

Wells’ score

A diagnostic scale of $-2$ to $9$ points where a score of $> 2$ indicates a high chance, $1$–$2$ points a moderate chance, and $< 1$ point a low chance of DVT.

Post-thrombotic syndrome

A complication that develops in $50\%$ of individuals who have deep vein thrombosis.

Thrombophlebitis

Vein inflammation caused by a clot, often found in deep leg veins, upper limbs at IV cannula sites, or pelvic/prostatic plexuses.

Mondor’s syndrome

A type of superficial thrombophlebitis affecting the subcutaneous veins of the breast, arm, or penis that presents as a lump.

Hoffman’s sign

A diagnostic indicator where forced dorsiflexion of the foot creates soreness behind the knee, though it is not $100\%$ accurate for thrombophlebitis.

Varicose veins

Enlarged, twisted superficial veins, most common in the leg, caused by downward gravitational pull stretching vein walls and leading to backward blood leakage.

Varicocele

Abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform venous plexus in the scrotum, most common in the left testicle and described as having a 'bag of worms' appearance.

Trendelenburg test

A physical exam for varicose veins where a supine patient's leg is raised, a tourniquet is applied to the upper thigh, and refilling times are assessed upon standing.

Ambulatory phlebectomy

A surgical treatment for varicose veins involving the removal of surface veins through small slits in the skin.

Hyperhomocysteinemia

A condition that can cause varicose veins by destroying structural proteins within the blood vessels.

Venous duplex ultrasound

A diagnostic imaging tool where thrombosed veins appear thickened and poorly compressible, and completely occluded veins appear hypoechoic.

Pampiniform venous plexus

The network of veins in the scrotum that becomes enlarged in a varicocele due to blood backing up, especially where the left testicular vein meets the left renal vein at a $90^{\circ}$ angle.