DUPLEX ULTRASOUND MAPPING OF SITES OF DEEP TO SUPERFICIAL INCOMPETENCE IN PRIMARY VARICOSE VEINS

Abstract

Most patients undergoing treatment for primary varicose veins have only a clinical assessment or examination with a continuous wave Doppler. In this study duplex ultrasound was used to determine the site of deep to superficial reflux in 137 limbs of 96 patients presenting with primary varicose veins. The incidence of saphenopopliteal (22%) and perforator (28%) incompetence was higher than that in previous studies based on clinical examination. Only five limbs had deep venous incompetence at the popliteal level and three of these limbs had lipodermatosclerosis or ulceration. The saphenopopliteal junction was either absent or more than lOcm from the knee joint in 13% of limbs. The information obtained from duplex scanning of patients with primary varicose veins facilitates surgical management and may lead to a lower recurrence rate.