Measuring venous insufficiency objectively in the clinical setting.
The purpose of this article is to propose a screening procedure to assess venous insufficiency with a hand-held photoplethysmography (PPG) instrument in the clinical setting. PPG is noninvasive technology that is used as part of venous assessment of the lower extremities. Although duplex ultrasound remains the industry gold standard for assessment, there are many situations in which access or expertise is not available. The measurement of venous refill time with PPG, one measure of venous insufficiency, is becoming increasingly more prevalent in research settings; however, PPG is underused in clinical settings. Rapid venous refill time </= 20 seconds is associated with chronic venous disorders, and its measurement in clinical settings as a screening mechanism may provide useful data to augment diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. Future research is needed to establish a best-practice guideline for venous assessment in clinical settings to validate using PPG.
Kelechi
Teresa J
TJ
Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
Bonham
Phyllis A
PA
D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply; D002983:Clinical Competence; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D015399:Nursing Research; D018579:Patient Selection; D017156:Photoplethysmography / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011187:Posture; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D014111:Tourniquets; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology