Research Roundup

Chronic venous insufficiency or CVI is a progressive and life-long debilitating disease that has become a global issue needing public health attention, especially in areas where risk factor rates are high. Early recognition and intervention are necessary to slow down the impact of the disease to help prevent debilitating complications and decrease associated healthcare costs. To be effective in managing CVI it is imperative to understand and have a good working knowledge of lower extremity anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, assessment and treatment/management options available. It is important to also take into account the impact that the disease has on each patient's quality of life, and the resources available to aid in addressing the mental, emotional, and physical affect on each individual patient. This article's focus is on developing a better understanding of the anatomy, physiology, clinical presentation and diagnosis of CVI, as well as available interventions especially diagnosing early and getting patient education on board.