GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ABLATION
BLOOD
BLOOD PRESSURE
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPRESSION HOSIERY
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)
DEEP VENOUS SYSTEM OF THE LEG
DUPLEX SCAN
DUPLEX ULTRASONOGRAPHY/SCAN
EVLA
FAMILY HISTORY
FEMORAL VEIN
GREATER SAPHENOUS VEIN
HAND HELD DOPPLER
EXAMINATION
HEREDITY
INFLAMMATION
LASER
LESSER SAPHENOUS VEIN
LIDOCAINE/LIGNOCAINE
LIPODERMATOSCLEROSIS
LOCAL ANAESTHESIA
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
OEDEMA
PERFORATOR VEINS
PHLEBITIS
RECURRENCE
REFLUX
REMNANTS
RETICULAR VEINS
SAPHENOFEMORAL JUNCTION
SCLEROSANT
SCLEROTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SPIDER/THREAD VEINS
STASIS DISCOLORATION
SUPERFICAIL THROMBOPHLEBITIS
SUPERFICIAL VEINS OF THE LEG
SUPPORT HOSIERY
TELANGECTASIA
THROMBUS
TORTUOUS
TRANSIENT PARAESTHESIA
TRAUMA
TUMESCENT ANAESTHESIA
ULCERATION
ULTRASOUND
VALVE
VARICOSE VEINS
VARICOSE VEINS, PRIMARY
VARICOSE VEINS, SECONDARY
VARICOSITIES
VENOUS DISEASE
VESSEL
ABLATION
Breaking of chemical bonds by thermal energy (heat).
BLOOD
The red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood travels through 2 connected systems: arterial and venous. Arterial blood carries oxygen and nutrients all over the body. Venous blood carries carbon dioxide and waste by-products to the lungs and kidneys for removal from the body.
BLOOD PRESSURE
The force that the circulating blood exerts on the walls of the arteries. This measurement is divided into systolic (pressure during contraction of the heart) and diastolic (pressure during relaxation phase).
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
The system that moves blood throughout the body, made up of the heart, arteries, capillaries, veins and venules. The system moves oxygenated blood (bright red) from the lungs and heart throughout the body via the arteries. The blood passes the oxygen to all parts of the body then travels back to the heart with deoxygenated blood (dark red) through the veins.
COMPRESSION HOSIERY
Hosiery with a specific amount of compression relevant to the leg size, available only with a prescription, used to treat chronic venous insufficiency and/or to prevent the development of venous insufficiency or other vein diseases. Compression hosiery must be warn for two weeks following your treatment.
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis. This is a blood clot which forms in the deep veins of the body, particularly common in the leg.
DEEP VENOUS SYSTEM OF THE LEG
One of the three major systems of veins in the leg (see also superficial veins, perforator veins). The deep venous system of leg veins are located deep in the leg and receive blood from more superficial veins.
DUPLEX SCAN
Ultrasound technology used to show direction and velocity of blood flow. (SEE ULTRASOUND)
DUPLEX ULTRASONOGRAPHY/SCAN
The most common test for varicose veins. The veins and blood flow can be visualised as well as listened to. The main superficial veins and their tributaries can be mapped out. This test is performed by running a hand held device over the skin above the vein. No injections are required for this pain free test.
EVLA
Acronym meaning Endo Venous Laser Ablation. A treatment used for the ablation of the saphenous vein. EVLA uses the heat from a laser causing changes to the greater saphenous vein. The vein then becomes non-functional and improves the symptoms of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency.
FAMILY HISTORY
The family structure and information about diseases within family members. The genetic transmission of a particular quality or trait from parent to offspring.
FEMORAL VEIN
A vein in the leg, part of the deep venous system found in the groin area. The femoral vein joins the greater saphenous vein at the saphenofemoral junction.
GREATER SAPHENOUS VEIN
This is the largest superficial vein in the leg. It is located on the inside of the ankle and runs all the way to the groin where it joins the deep venous system at the saphenofemoral junction (can be referred to as the long saphenous vein).
HAND HELD DOPPLER
EXAMINATION
A small device used by a vascular specialist to listen to the direction of blood flow in the main superficial veins of the leg. This can determine if the blood is flowing satisfactorily in the leg.
HEREDITY
The genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring, Often applicable to varicose veins.
INFLAMMATION
A basic reaction of the body to infections and injury etc, recognised by redness, warmth, pain and swelling.
LASER
A high powered beam of light able to produce intense focussed heat at close range. They are very much an accepted form of treatment in todays medicine.
LESSER SAPHENOUS VEIN
The smaller of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially.
LIDOCAINE/LIGNOCAINE
A local anaesthetic similar to those used at the dentist, used to temporarily numb a particular area of the body prior to treatment.
LIPODERMATOSCLEROSIS
A discoloration of the skin in the ankle area caused by chronic venous insufficiency. The components of the blood leak into the skin causing a discoloration of the skin, skin breakdown and set the stage for the possible formation of a venous ulcer. Refer
LOCAL ANAESTHESIA
A form of anaesthetic which is used to temporarily numb a local area only prior to treatment, you will be awake during the procedure.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
A clinical procedure that is carried out by entering the body through the skin with a minimal incision in the skin.
OEDEMA
An accumulation of fluid often referred to by patients as swelling.
PERFORATOR VEINS
Located in the leg, perforator veins connect the deep venous system and the superficial venous system.
PHLEBITIS
Located in the leg, perforator veins connect the deep venous system and the superficial venous system, allowing blood to drain from the skin into the deep veins and then pumped toward the heart.
RECURRENCE
The reappearance of a sign, symptom or disease.
REFLUX
The delayed flow of blood. In the legs this refers to the differences in the flow of blood when the one-way valve in the vein malfunctions. Reflux can result in varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency and spider veins when the valves inside the very tiny veins do not work properly.
REMNANTS
Small, visible signs of the varicose veins found on the surface of the skin following the procedure. Some patients may require additional treatment to deal with the remnants.
RETICULAR VEINS
These veins are medium in size, larger than spider veins, though smaller than the typical varicosities of the greater saphenous vein. Although reticular veins can become varicosed, it usually refers to a medium-sized vein that is visible under the skin.
SAPHENOFEMORAL JUNCTION
The junction found high up in the groin area where the femoral vein (part of the deep system vein) is joined by the greater saphenous vein (large vein within the superficial venous system). The blood is supposed to be moving from the greater saphenous vein into the femoral vein. It is often a site of venous valve malfunction. This causes reflux of blood from the deep venous system into the superficial venous system.
SCLEROSANT
A fluid which is injected into a vein to cause a reaction in the vein walls, used in Sclerotherapy.
SCLEROTHERAPY
Treatment whereby a sclerosant is injected into a vein to cause a reaction in the vein walls, this in turn causes the vein to become non-functional. The vein will gradually disappear and blood flow is taken over by healthy blood vessels.
SIDE EFFECTS
Problems that can occur when treatment passes the desired effect and become an addition or alternative to the required effect..
SPIDER/THREAD VEINS
Also known as telangectasia. Spider veins are very small veins (can be as small as a hair), red or blue in appearance, that can resemble the legs of a spider which can occur singly or as a spider vein complex.
STASIS DISCOLORATION
A discoloration of the skin in the ankle area caused by chronic venous insufficiency. The components of the blood leak into the skin causing a discoloration of the skin, skin breakdown and set the stage for the possible formation of a venous ulcer. Referred to as lipodermatosclerosis
SUPERFICAIL THROMBOPHLEBITIS
Inflammation of a vein within the superficial venous system in combination with a thrombus (blood clot). This can be painful, but not life-threatening (in contrast to deep vein thrombosis), it is usually treated with local heat, elevation of the leg and medication.
SUPERFICIAL VEINS OF THE LEG
One of the three major systems of veins in the leg (see deep venous system of the leg and perforator veins). Superficial veins collect blood from the skin and other superficial tissue and transport it to the deep venous system, sometimes through perforator veins. The largest superficial vein is the greater saphenous vein.
SUPPORT HOSIERY
Hosiery available “over the counter” and will supply a small amount of compression to the legs when worn. Compression can assist in preventing or slowing down the development of vein disease. Compression offered by the support hosiery is often not enough to be helpful in preventing varicose veins, spider veins or vein disease in general. In the absence of arterial disease, graduated compression hosiery are much more effective.
TELANGECTASIA
Also referred to as spider veins, which are very small veins (can be as small as a hair), red or blue in appearance, that can resemble the legs of a spider. Spider veins can occur singly or as a spider vein complex.
THROMBUS
Blood clot, in the venous system, the location of the clot is important. If the thrombus forms in the deep venous system it can create a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and a possible life-threatening condition of a pulmonary embolus. If the thrombus and inflammation occur in the superficial venous system, it is not usually life-threatening and can be treated effectively. (See phlebitis and superficial thrombophlebitis)
TORTUOUS
Veins which have several curves and bends and are not uniformly straight.
TRANSIENT PARAESTHESIA
Numbness, the feeling of "pins and needles"
TRAUMA
Injury.
TUMESCENT ANAESTHESIA
A mixture of solutions including local anaesthetic injected into the leg during greater saphenous vein ablation. Tumescent anaesthesia not only provides pain relief but also provides protection for the tissue surrounding the greater saphenous vein during the procedure.
ULCERATION
The process of being eroded away, as in a skin ulcer. This means that the skin has become broken and is slow to heal. Ulcers have a raw base which may look pink and clean, or may contain yellowish ‘slough’. Venous ulcers may be small or large and venous disease is the most common reason for ulcers in the lower leg.
ULTRASOUND
A non-invasive diagnostic study that uses inaudible sound waves to highlight tissues with varying densities. This can be used to outline various tissues and organs within the body. This is often used along with a Doppler or duplex, which can be used to show direction and velocity of blood flow.
VALVE
A small gate inside a vein (which allows blood to be pushed back to the heart) which should only permit one-way flow of blood. When the valves are not working correctly, backward flow of blood (reflux) is allowed, this causes pressure elevation in the preceding area of the vein. This may lead to the formation of varicose veins and telangectasias (spider veins).
VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins are formed when the one-way valves (gates) within the veins do not operate correctly for various reasons. If the valve in the vein becomes damaged or does not function in the way it should, blood will not flow correctly (reflux), causing increased pressure on the preceding area of the vein. In time, varicose veins will occur and the vein walls become thickened and enlarged. Varicose veins often produce aching and pain, and are generally present in the condition of chronic venous insufficiency. Once damaged, valves within the venous system cannot be repaired.
VARICOSE VEINS, PRIMARY
The most common type of varicose veins that occur in the long and short saphenous veins and their relevant branches
VARICOSE VEINS, SECONDARY
These act as bypass veins when the deep veins have been damaged or occluded
VARICOSITIES
Varicose veins.
VENOUS DISEASE
Disease of the veins such as: spider veins (telangectasias), varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcer formation.
VESSEL
A tube within the body that transports various fluids around