Edema: Chronic venous insufficiency

Edema and its Causes

Edema is a modest swelling produced by an increase in the volume of the interstitial fluid. Due to venous insufficiency, the condition is more prevalent in persons over the age of 50. (Eberhardt & Raffetto, 2014). This problem affects more than 30% of the population, although other disorders, such as heart failure, affect only 1%. Adult patients with lower leg edema might have a variety of illnesses. Deep vein thrombosis and its related, chronic venous insufficiency, are the first unilateral diagnoses (Simon, 2014). There are no acute symptoms on the bilateral diagnosis, but there are chronic symptoms such as venous insufficiency, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, idiopathic edema, lymphedema, medications, premenstrual edema, pregnancy, and obesity. There are some other causes of leg edema that are less common. The unilateral diagnosis has several acute symptoms including Ruptured Baker's cyst and secondary lymphedema for the chronic symptoms (Eberhardt & Raffetto, 2014). The bilateral diagnosis has bilateral deep vein thrombosis for the acute symptoms and renal disease for the chronic symptoms. Diagnostic testing is done through either clinical investigation or radiologic investigation. Radiological investigation is more efficient than clinical investigation, as it is involves a series of tests that are clear and precise and also in depth.

Treatment Approaches

There are several instances that could be approached for treatment purposes. The first approach for mild cases of lower leg edema includes elevating the limb that has been affected together with some little skin care (Simon, 2014). Physical treatments such as exercise, compression, and massage are very vital for lymphatic drainage. Heat therapy and pharmacology treatment could be also effective in treating lower leg edema.

Differences between Arterial and Venous Insufficiency

There are several differences between the arterial and venous insufficiency. The main one is where the wounds occur (Simon, 2014). In arterial insufficiency, wounds come about secondary to ischemia and are as a result of lacking enough supply of oxygenated blood. At the same time, in venous, they occur secondary to insufficient venous system functioning.

References

Eberhardt, R. T., & Raffetto, J. D. (2014). Chronic venous insufficiency. Circulation, 130(4), 333-346.

Simon, E. B. (2014). Leg edema assessment and management. Medsurg Nursing, 23(1), 44.