Varicosities or the Varicose Veins

The increased flow of blood and the relaxation of the muscular walls of the blood vessels leads to a more difficult return of blood from the lower body. They can appear in the legs, vulva, or rectum. The varicose veins in that area that are a result of these changes can be painful, itching, dull nagging aches and pains, night cramps, ankle swelling, feelings of burning or leg fatigue after prolonged standing. This health condition affects about 20% of all adults worldwide.


Abnormal dilation of veins of lower extremities and trunks due to

• Incompetent valve
• Increased venous pooling
• Venous stasis
• Decrease venous return

Our arteries carry oxygen rich blood to the cells of our bodies, while the veins are designed to pump oxygen poor blood back to the heart. This is accomplished through a series of one-way valves that do not allow blood to flow backwards into the vein. When someone suffers from varicose veins, the one-way valves of their veins do not close adequately, resulting in the inefficient transport of blood back to the heart. This causes the blood to flow backward within the vein, creating pressure and causing the vein to become swollen and distended.  Most people recognize varicose veins because of their knotted, twisted, swollen and often bluish of these veins.

Factors of Varicosities

• Hereditary
• Congenital weakness of veins
• Thrombophlebitis
• Cardiac disorder
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Prolonged standing or sitting

Sign and Symptoms of Varicosities:

• Pain after prolonged standing
• Dilated tortuous skin veins
• Warm to touch
• Heaviness in legs

Diagnostic Procedure

• Venography
• Trendelenburg's Test - veins distends quickly in less than 35 seconds

Nursing Management

• Elevate legs above heart level to promote increase venous return by placing 2-3 pillows under the legs
• Measure the circumference of leg muscle to determine if swollen
• Wear anti embolic stockings
• Administer medications as order (Analgesics)
• Assist in surgical procedure - *Vein stripping and ligation (most effective)   *Sderotheraphy - can recure and  only done in spider web varicosities and danger of thrombosis (2-3 years for embolism