ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Chirurgia 1999 April;12(2):123-6

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

The saphenous eye and the haemodynamics of venous dilatations

Zamboni P., Liboni A.

Background. Duplex evaluation of the clinically considered varicose long saphenous vein.Methods. 378 patients, 509 limbs with primary varicose veins, 94 patients, 103 limbs with presence of a visible, superficial varicose vein trunk along the internal side of the thigh. The latter underwent duplex scanning of the entire long saphenous vein.
Main outcome maisure.Sonographic detection of a varicose saphenous vein and/or saphenous veinsegmental dilatation and their relationship with presence of saphenous reflux,turbulence, incompetent perforator as well as of incompetent saphenous tributaries close to the dilated segment.
Results. In 98% of cases the varicose trunk visible at the thigh was demonstrated to be a tributary of the saphenous vein. 34% of the observed saphenous vein presented with segmentary dilatations at the thigh. This finding was related in 100% of cases to saphenous vein reflux with high diastolic velocity and turbulence (p<0.0001).
Conclusions. High resolution ultrasonography demonstrated that when a dilated and varicose longitudinal vein trunk is visible and palpable at the internal side of the thigh is more likely to be a tributary rather that the LSV. In addition, a winding and a varicose saphenous vein along its entire length practically does not exist.However, when a dilated saphenous segment occurs, it seems to be related to high diastolic flow velocity and turbulence.