Pelvic vein reflux in female patients with varicose veins: comparison of incidence between a specialist private vein clinic and the vascular department of a National Health Service District General Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
Mounting evidence suggests that pelvic vein reflux is an important contributing factor to recurrent varicose veins. We compared the incidence in our specialist private unit (Unit A) with that of a District General Hospital (Unit B).


METHODS
Results of all female patient lower limb duplex ultrasound (LLDUS) and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound (TVUS) scans performed over a one-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with refluxing veins emanating from the abdomen or pelvis on LLDUS (non-saphenous reflux) routinely proceeded to TVUS in Unit A.


RESULTS
In Unit A, non-saphenous reflux on LLDUS was present in 90-462 female patients (19.5%). In 81.1% of these, TVUS confirmed reflux in truncal pelvic veins (incidence 15.8%). In Unit B, non-saphenous reflux was present in 60-279 female patients (21.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
One in five women presenting with varicose veins have reflux of non-saphenous origin. This is the case in specialist and non-specialist units. One in six has associated pelvic vein reflux.
Marsh
P
P
The Whiteley Clinic, 1, Stirling House, Stirling Road, Guildford GU2 7RF, UK.
Holdstock
J
J
Harrison
C
C
Smith
C
C
Price
B A
BA
Whiteley
M S
MS
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*