Enlarged veins, which appear as bulging veins and purple-blue in color are known as varicose veins. Some of the common causes of varicose veins are aging, sedentary lifestyle and pregnancy.
Most of the people suffering from varicose veins think of it as something which is cosmetically not pleasing. But that’s not the case. Varicose veins should not be ignored because if they are not treated, they can lead to complications, such as pain, fatigue, restless leg syndrome, swelling and rupture of varicose veins.
What Causes the Varicose Veins to Rupture?
The varicose veins are situated very close to the surface of the skin, which puts them at a high risk for spontaneously rupturing and bleeding. The cause for ruptured varicose veins could be something as simple as bumping against the furniture or a very minor injury to the skin. Rupture commonly occurs of the small veins present near the ankle. A ruptured varicose vein need not cause any pain or tenderness.
A varicose vein ruptures because of the increased venous pressures within the varicose veins; especially the ones near the foot or ankle and the pressure can be as high as arterial blood pressure because of failure of valves in veins and the effect of the gravity. The increased venous pressure within the varicose veins cause stretching of the walls of the veins resulting in them becoming weak and prone to rupturing suddenly. A ruptured varicose vein can cause bleeding into the tissues and can also bleed through the skin’s surface, especially if the skin over the varicose vein has become thin.
Is Ruptured Varicose Vein a Serious Condition?
Bleeding from ruptured varicose veins can occur in small amounts occurring on sporadic occasions or it can become fatal with the blood from the ruptured varicose vein squirting out. So, it is important to treat a ruptured varicose vein immediately to prevent further complications.
What is the Treatment for Ruptured Varicose Vein?
Emergency treatment for a ruptured varicose vein includes:
Elevating the leg with the ruptured varicose vein above the level of the heart. Next step is applying pressure on the bleeding site, which can be done with a finger or a pressure dressing. Alternatively it is better to use a cloth or a folded gauze sponge over the area of the ruptured varicose veins with the help of elastic wrap or compression hose to stop the bleeding.
Medical treatment of ruptured varicose vein consists of ultrasound guided sclerotherapy, which helps in prevention of further episodes of bleeding from the ruptured varicose vein. Patient needs to undergo complete evaluation of the lower extremity veins to check the underlying cause of the varicose veins and its rupture and seek treatment accordingly.
