Incidence and time of occurrence of valvular incompetence following deep vein thrombosis.
Commencing December 1986 and over the course of 4 years, the diagnosis of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was established by duplex scanning in 286 patients referred to the University of Washington Medical Center in order to rule out this problem. From this group 107 patients (123 legs with DVT) were placed in a long-term follow-up program. The documentation of valvular reflux and its site was demonstrated by duplex scanning. The duplex studies were done at intervals of 1 and 7 days, 1 month, every 3 months for the first year and then yearly thereafter. The mean follow-up time was 341 days. The presence of reflux was also determined in 502 patients with a negative duplex study and no previous history of DVT or chronic venous insufficiency. In the patients with acute DVT, valvular incompetence was noted in 17 limbs (14%) at the time of the initial study. Reflux was absent in 106 limbs (86%). In this last group reflux developed in 17% of the limbs by day 7. By the end of the first month, 37% demonstrated reflux. By the end of the first year, more than two-thirds of the involved limbs had developed valvular incompetence. The distribution of reflux at the end of the first year of follow-up was: 1) popliteal vein, 58%; 2) superficial femoral vein, 37%; 3) common femoral vein, 33%; and 4) posterior tibial vein, 18%. Reflux in the greater saphenous vein occurred in 25% of the limbs after 1 year. Reflux developed more frequently in thrombosed venous segments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Markel
A
A
Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle.
Manzo
R A
RA
Bergelin
R O
RO
Strandness
D E
DE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011186:Postphlebitic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology