Colour duplex ultrasonographic imaging and provocation of popliteal artery compression.
OBJECTIVE
Provoked compression of the popliteal artery by active plantar flexion of the foot is still mainstay in the assessment of the popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. In this study, the effects of several provocation manoeuvres of the foot on the flow patterns of the popliteal arteries of normal healthy volunteers were evaluated.


METHODS
Experimental study among healthy volunteers in a vascular laboratory.


METHODS
The popliteal artery of 16 healthy volunteers was studied with Duplex scanning in rest and during active and passive plantar and dorsal flexion of the foot.


RESULTS
Active plantar flexion was the only movement that influenced popliteal artery flow patterns. Changes were found in 27 arteries (85%), consisting of either a complete occlusion (n = 19, 59%), a significant lumen reduction (n = 4, 13%) or a low flow state (n = 4, 13%).


CONCLUSIONS
Compression of the popliteal artery by active plantar flexion of the foot is a physiologic phenomenon and its value in the assessment of patients suspected of the popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is limited.
Akkersdijk
W L
WL
Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
de Ruyter
J W
JW
Lapham
R
R
Mali
W
W
Eikelboom
B C
BC
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods