Prevalence and Distribution of Venous Insufficiency in Patients with Post-Thrombotic Scar

Abstract

Chronic venous insufficiency of deep venous system in most cases is an acquired disorder which occurs following deep vein thrombosis, and can subsequently followed by skin changes and disability. Color Doppler sonography is the main diagnostic tool for chronic venous insufficiency, and also is a useful tool for identifying the distribution and extent of venous reflux. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of venous insufficiency in patients with post-thrombotic scar at lower extremity venous system. Fifty three limbs of 48 subjects were evaluated. Patients with previous deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs presented with skin ulcers, variceal veins or leg edema were included in the present study. Venous Doppler scanning was commenced at external iliac vein (EIV) and moved to common femoral vein (CFV), saphenofemoral junction (SFJ), superficial femoral vein (SFV), greater saphenous vein (GSV), popliteal vein (POPV), saphenopopliteal junction (SPJ), lesser saphenous vein (LSV), calf veins (CV), and perforator veins (PV), respectively. The results showed that prevalence of thrombotic scar was more common in proximal deep veins of the limbs. Moreover, popliteal vein was the most common insufficient vein (58.5%). Perforator veins also had no thrombotic scar but they were insufficient in 3 patients (5.66%). This study also showed that severe stenosis or occlusion was most common in external iliac veins (12 patients). In conclusion, the chronic post-thrombotic scar was common at proximal veins. Moreover, deep vein insufficiency was more common than superficial system. In addition, POPV was found as the most common insufficient vein. [Bavil AS, Ghabili K. Prevalence and Distribution of Venous Insufficiency in Patients with Post-Thrombotic Scar. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):5828-5830] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 869