Quantitative assessment of the degree of deep venous reflux of the lower extremities.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to quantitatively evaluate the degree of deep venous reflux of the lower extremities using colour Doppler velocity profile (CDVP) technology.


METHODS
Deep venous reflux volume was examined using CDVP in 79 limbs of 66 patients who were admitted to our hospital between July 1999 and July 2000 with primary, deep venous, valvular incompetence. Reflux data were statistically described and analyzed.


RESULTS
Of 79 limbs, 20 had grade I reflux, with a mean reflux volume of 29.79 +/- 5.89 mL/min; 19 had grade II reflux, mean reflux volume, 43.87 +/- 4.86 mL/min; 23 had grade III reflux, mean reflux volume, 70.67 +/- 5.77 mL/min; and 17 had grade IV reflux, mean reflux volume, 105.07 +/- 14.8 mL/min. There were significant differences among grades I, II, III and IV (p < 0.05), except between grades I and II (p > 0.05) for analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls analysis, although the 95% confidence interval (CI) of grade I was different from grade II. Every degree of reflux volume showed close correlation with the reflux index. Other indices were less sensitive.


CONCLUSIONS
Venous reflux volume is a more accurate non-invasive quantitative assessment of the degree of deep venous reflux in the lower extremities than current methods.
Department of Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. zuojunhu@hotmail.com
Zuo Jun
ZJ
Hu
Shen Ming
SM
Wang
Yan Hua
YH
Wang
Xue Ling
XL
Huang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*