Varicosis secondary I83.9

Compensatory dilatation of the superficial (epifascial) veins due to increased venous pressure, e.g. after thrombotic or traumatic occlusion of the deep leg veins as part of a postthrombotic syndrome. Both the acute phase of deep vein thrombosis and the recanalization phase of deep vein thrombosis can lead to secondary varicosis.

Approximately 60% of untreated patients develop secondary varicosis within 10 years after deep vein thrombosis (phlebothrombosis).

Basically, when the vicious circle of reflux of blood from the deep vein system into the epifascial vein system breaks through, the pathological changes in the vein wall can regress. However, once the process has become chronic with fibrosis of the venous wall and loss of the elastic apparatus, the process is irreversible. Chronic venous insufficiency develops.

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