Venous reflux is a condition where veins fail to return blood to the heart properly, causing blood to pool and leading to swelling and discomfort. Normally, valves in the leg veins keep blood flowing back up to the heart, but when these valves dont work properly, blood can flow backward, a situation known as venous reflux. Venous reflux most commonly affects the legs, and it can cause varicose veins, spider veins, and small reddish veins. Venous reflux can be caused by a blood disorder or injury that causes blood clots that damage the valves or veins, peripheral artery disease, or the natural aging process that weakens the vein valves and walls. Symptoms of venous reflux include swelling in the legs or ankles, a tight feeling in the calves, itchy and painful legs, pain when walking that stops when you rest, brown-colored skin, often near the ankles, varicose veins, and leg ulcers that are sometimes hard to treat.
Venous reflux is a common clinical problem, and up to 40% of women and 17% of men who experience significant problems with the veins in their legs may suffer from venous reflux disease. Treatment options for venous reflux include wearing compression stockings, treating or reducing high blood pressure, treating constipation, endovenous techniques, and surgery. However, these treatment options are largely palliative, and recurrence is common. Imaging plays a central role in the evaluation of reflux, treatment selection, and monitoring for recurrence.
