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Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Postphlebitic Syndrome

By James D. Douketis, MD, McMaster University;St. Joseph's Hospital

Chronic venous insufficiency is damage to leg veins that prevents blood from flowing normally. Postphlebitic syndrome is chronic venous insufficiency that results from a blood clot in the veins.

  • Chronic venous insufficiency may cause leg discomfort, swelling, and skin rash, discoloration, and/or ulcers.

  • Postphlebitic syndrome is chronic venous insufficiency that resulted from a blood clot in the veins (deep vein thrombosis).

  • Doctors use duplex ultrasonography for diagnosis.

  • Keeping the leg elevated, wearing compression stockings, and carefully treating any wounds are necessary for treatment.

About 5% of people in the United States have chronic venous insufficiency. Postphlebitic syndrome may develop in 20 to 70% of people with deep vein thrombosis, usually within 1 to 2 years.


Blood returns from the legs through shallow and deep veins. Contraction of leg muscles pushes blood through the deep veins. Valves in the veins keep blood flowing upward toward the heart . Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when something widens the veins and/or damages the valves in the veins. These changes decrease blood flow in the veins and increase the pressure in the veins. The increased pressure and low blood flow cause fluid to accumulate in the legs and other symptoms.

The most common cause of chronic venous insufficiency is

A blood clot may cause chronic venous insufficiency because scar tissue from the clot may damage the valves in the veins. Because deep vein thrombosis is sometimes called phlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency can be called postphlebitic syndrome.

Other risk factors for chronic venous insufficiency include injury to the legs, aging, and obesity.

One-Way Valves in the Veins

One-way valves consist of two flaps (cusps or leaflets) with edges that meet. These valves help veins return blood to the heart. As blood moves toward the heart, it pushes the cusps open like a pair of one-way swinging doors (shown on the left). If gravity momentarily pulls the blood backward or if blood begins to back up in a vein, the cusps are immediately pushed closed, preventing backward flow (shown on the right).

Postphlebitic syndrome

Not everyone who has a blood clot in the leg develops postphlebitic syndrome. People who are at increased risk following a blood clot in the leg include those who have had

  • Several episodes of blood clots in the same leg

  • A blood clot in the upper part of the leg and/or pelvic region

People who are obese also may be at increased risk.


People have leg swelling (edema), which typically is worse at the end of the day because blood must flow upward against gravity when a person is standing or sitting. Overnight, edema subsides because the veins empty well when the legs are horizontal. The swelling may not cause any symptoms, but some people feel fullness, heaviness, aching, cramps, pain, tiredness, and tingling in the legs.

Varicose veins may be present.

Later on, the skin on the inside of the ankle becomes scaly and itchy and may turn a reddish brown. The discoloration is caused by red blood cells that escape from swollen (distended) veins into the skin. The discolored skin is vulnerable, and even a minor injury, such as that from scratching or a bump, can break it open, resulting in an ulcer. Ulcers may also develop without any known injury, typically on the inside of the ankle. Ulcers are usually only slightly uncomfortable. A very painful ulcer might be infected.

If edema is severe and persistent, scar tissue develops and traps fluid in the tissues. As a result, the calf permanently enlarges and feels hard. In such cases, ulcers are more likely to develop, and they heal less easily.


  • Doctor's evaluation

Doctors usually can diagnose chronic venous insufficiency based on its appearance and symptoms.

Sometimes doctors do ultrasonography of the legs to make sure the edema is not caused by deep vein thrombosis.


Losing weight, participating in regular exercise, and reducing the amount of sodium in the diet, can help keep blood pressure in the leg veins low.

People who have had deep venous thrombosis should take anticoagulants to prevent postphlebitic syndrome. Compression stockings do not prevent the development of chronic venous insufficiency but are useful for treatment.


Treatment involves

  • Leg elevation

  • Compression using bandages, stockings, and/or intermittent pneumatic compression leggings

  • Wound care

Elevating the leg above the level of the heart decreases pressure in the veins, and should be done for 30 minutes or longer at least 3 times per day.

Compression is effective and used for all people to help reduce swelling and discomfort. Elastic bandages are used first. Once edema decreases and ulcers begin to heal, people can use commercial compression stockings. Such stockings are available with different amounts of pressure. Higher pressure stockings are more effective for severe problems but are more uncomfortable. Stockings should be put on when people awaken, before leg edema worsens with activity, and worn all day. Many people have difficulty using the stockings regularly. Younger or more active people consider stockings irritating, restricting, or unattractive. Older people may have difficulty putting them on. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) uses a pump to repeatedly inflate and deflate hollow plastic leggings. IPC squeezes blood and fluid out of the lower legs but is cumbersome.

Wound care is important to heal leg ulcers. Various dressings have been developed that can be left under compression stockings for several days to a week. The Unna boot dressing uses zinc oxide–impregnated bandages. Other dressings provide a moist environment for wound healing and promote growth of new tissue.

Drugs and surgery do not help chronic venous insufficiency, although skin grafting can be a last resort for skin ulcers that have not healed with other measures. However, the grafted skin will reulcerate unless the person consistently follows leg elevation and compression instructions.

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