title: Ultrasound assessment of popliteal vein compliance during a short deflation protocol.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether ultrasound is a useful tool to measure the venous characteristics of the lower extremity during a standard venous collecting cuff deflation protocol. To accomplish this, lower extremity pressure-cross-sectional area (CSA) and pressure-volume relationships were measured in eight (25 +/- 1 yr) supine subjects. Popliteal vein CSA was assessed by using high-resolution ultrasound, while calf volume changes were simultaneously assessed by using venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP). Pressure-CSA and pressure-volume relationships were assessed at baseline, during the cold pressor (CP) test, and following sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) administration. Relationships were modeled with a quadratic regression equation, and beta(1) and beta(2) were used as indexes of venous compliance. Popliteal vein regression parameters beta(1) (8.485 +/- 2.616 vs. 7.638 +/- 2.664, baseline vs. CP; 8.485 +/- 2.616 vs. 7.734 +/- 3.076, baseline vs. NTG; both P > 0.05) and beta(2) (-0.0841 +/- 0.0241 vs. -0.0793 +/- 0.0242, baseline vs. CP; -0.0841 +/- 0.0241 vs. -0.0771 +/- 0.0280, baseline vs. NTG; both P > 0.05) were not affected by CP or NTG. Similarly, calf regression parameters beta(1) and beta(2), obtained with VOP, were not altered during either trial. Intraclass correlations for venous compliance assessed with ultrasound and VOP were 0.92 and 0.97, respectively, indicating acceptable reproducibility. These data suggest that ultrasound is a functional and reproducible tool to assess the venous characteristics of the lower extremity, in addition to VOP. Additionally, popliteal vein and calf compliance were not affected by the CP test or NTG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, 142 Human Performance Laboratory, University of Delaware, 541 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Colin N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Raju Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fullenkamp
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Stillbower
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Farquhar
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003187:Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010991:Plethysmography; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin