[General physiopathology of postphlebitic syndromes]

The physiopathological analysis of post-phlebitic disorders enables us to throw light upon several pathogenic mechanisms. With regard to physiopathology it is possible to distinguish: the obstructive syndrome, linked with the obstruction of a large venous collector; the supply syndrome: post-phlebitic superficial venous deficiency; the repermeation syndrome: post-phlebitic deep venous deficiency; the restrictive syndrome, characterized by the deterioration of the venous distensibility; mixed syndromes in which various pathogenic mechanisms are involved. These various pathological processes eventually result in a state of chronic venous stasis, characterized at the microcirculatory level by the triggering- off of a series of vicious circles which are at the root of a real tissular illness, added to which are the trophic disorders which cause the illness to be serious.