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Perforating Veins Diagram

The venous system in our legs has superficial and deep veins. The superficial venous system is right beneath the skin, while the deep venous system is located within the muscles. The one-way vein valves in our legs deliver blood from the superficial system to the deep system and back to the heart.

What Are Perforating Veins?

The connections between the deep and superficial venous systems are called perforating veins and can have faulty valves as well. When blood begins to flow backwards or the valve is otherwise functioning improperly, pressures can build within the vein walls. These faulty veins can cause varicose veins to form, especially in the lower leg, calf and ankle.

Refluxing perforator veins are often the cause of chronic ulcers and skin discoloration, also called venous stasis disease. Once treated, these ulcers can heal and halt the progression of the skin discoloration.

Perforating Vein Sclerotherapy

If we discover perforating veins, we’ll schedule an ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy treatment. During this procedure, a small needle is used to inject a chemical solution into the perforated vein, which irritates the vein and closes it; this allow the blood flow to be redirected into healthy veins. Following treatment, patients wear a compression stocking for 1 week to minimize swelling and any discomfort during the healing process.

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