Chronic venous disease – an update on pathophysiology, diagnosis and management

Summary: Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a common disease, affecting up to 20% of the general population. In later clinical stages of venous refluxive disease dwelling oedema, skin changes and leg ulcers can occur. Therapeutic options comprise compression therapy and several minimal-invasive as well as open surgery treatments. Venous leg ulcers, as well as mixed arterial-venous leg ulcers inflict high socioeconomic and health care system burden. Despite both the high prevalence as well as the high cost, timely and effective treatment are often delayed. Thus, this review summarizes all of these mentioned aspects of CVD.