title: Duplex ultrasound in the pre-operative assessment of varicose veins.
abstract: A technique for the pre-operative localization of sites of incompetence using B mode and Doppler ultrasound (duplex) is described. The reliability of this investigation was compared with the clinical assessment of a group of surgeons experienced in varicose vein surgery, and with the subsequent surgical findings. Duplex scans were found to be over 98% sensitive and 93-97% specific compared with the surgical findings. Clinical techniques were much less sensitive and specific, and in addition there was uncertainty about incompetence in up to 52% of cases. The place of ultrasound and comparison with other techniques is discussed. While this technique is widely used, especially in vascular laboratories, the technique has not previously been reported in detail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Palmerston North Hospital, New Zealand.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery