During a visit to the clinic, a woman in her seventh month of pregnancy states that her legs feel "heavy in the calf" and that she often has foot cramps at night. The nurse notices that the patient has dilated, tortuous veins apparent in her lower legs. Which condition is reflected by these findings?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Superficial varicose veins are caused by incompetent distant valves in the veins, which results in the reflux of blood, producing dilated, tortuous veins. Varicose veins are more common in women, and pregnancy can also be a cause. Symptoms include aching, heaviness in the calf, easy fatigability, and night leg or foot cramps. Dilated, tortuous veins are observed on assessment. Lymphedema is the accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the interstitial spaces in the arm, not the leg. Raynaud phenomenon presents as episodes of abrupt, progressive tricolor change of the fingers in response to cold, vibration, or stress. The symptoms of deep vein thrombophlebitis are warmth, swelling, redness, tender to palpation, and may have dependent cyanosis. This patient is experiencing superficial varicose veins which are caused by incompetent distant valves in the veins, which results in the reflux of blood, producing dilated, tortuous veins.

During a Visit to the Clinic, a Woman in Her