VARICOSE VEIN

also called Varix, vein that is twistedtortuousand distended with blood. The term varix is also used for similar abnormalities in arteries and in lymphatic vessels. Varicose veins occur in a number of areas, including the legs; the esophagus, or gullet; the spermatic veins, which return blood from the testes (varicose veins in this area cause a mass in the scrotum that is called a varicocele); the veins of the broad ligaments, i.e., folds of peritoneal membrane that extend from the uterus to the walls of the pelvis; and the veins of the urinary bladder. Varicose veins in the legs, by far the most common location, result from malfunctioning of the valves in the veins. These valves normally prevent blood from reversing its flow after the movement of the leg muscles has forced the blood upward and from superficial veins to the deep veins. When the valves do not function properly, the blood collects in the superficial veins, distending and twisting them. Weakness of the valves and of the walls of the veins may be inherited. Other possible causes include garments that improperly constrict the legs (e.g., stretch boots that are tight only at the top rather than evenly down the length of the lower leg), enlarged lymph nodes, and tumours of the pelvis. The increase in the number of varices that occurs during pregnancy has awakened the suspicion that abnormalities in endocrine secretion play a role. Symptoms include a sensation of heaviness and a tendency for the leg muscles to cramp while one is standing. The feet and legs swell at the end of the day. The skin may be inflamed and moist, a condition called weeping eczema. Ulcers may appear around the ankles, and clots may develop in the diseased blood vessels (see thrombophlebitis). Treatment consists of the use of elastic bandages or strong support hose if the affected person is unable to undergo surgery; injection of a sclerosing solutiona solution that hardens the vein and makes it like a corddirectly into the vein, a method used primarily for dealing with minor varices and for treatment of varices that have persisted after most have been corrected by surgery; and surgical treatment, consisting of tying off the affected veins or removing them, a process called stripping. The most recent treatment has been by electrolyte methods. See also hemorrhoid.