Association between the Results of Foot Volumetry and Superficial and Deep Venous Incompetence as Demonstrated by Duplex Ultrasonography

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the association between superficial and deep vein incompetence demonstrated by duplex ultrasonography and the results of foot volumetry.

Design:

Duplex ultrasonography was used to detect superficial and deep venous incompetence. Foot volumetry was used to determine expulsion fraction (expelled volume/total foot volume, EF, %) and half-refilling time (HRT, seconds).

Setting:

Hospital outpatients attending the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Patients:

Forty-three patients with venous ulcer disease.

Results:

EF, obtained with tourniquet occlusion of superficial veins, in patients without deep vein incompetence was not significantly different from EF in patients with either femoral vein incompetence (FVI), popliteal vein incompetence (PVI) or both. HRT in patients without deep vein incompetence was significantly higher than HRT in patients with FVI (p < 0.02), PVI (p < 0.01) and both FVI and PVI (p < 0.03, Wilcoxon signed rank test). EF and HRT values obtained without tourniquet occlusion were unrelated to the presence or absence of deep vein incompetence. There was no relationship between the results of foot volumetry and superficial vein incompetence.

Conclusions:

The results of foot volumetry are related to deep, but not superficial, venous incompetence as demonstrated by duplex ultrasonography.