Venous Diseases of Lower Limbs: Retrospective Analysis of Duplex Ultrasound Findings

Abstract

Introduction: Venous pathologies of the lower limb include acute deep venous thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency. Deep vein thrombosis can cause pulmonary embolism, which is a serious medical emergency. Deep venous thrombosis usually manifests with limb pain and swelling in high risk group whereas chronic venous insufficiencies manifests with limb swelling, telengiectasia, varicosities and skin changes including ulceration which also cause serious morbidity. The aim of this study was to ret-rospectively analyze the findings of duplex ultrasound in patients with venous disease of lower limbs.

Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study in 386 patients was carried out analyzing the records of duplex ultrasound findings at Kathmandu Imaging Center, Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal. Clinical information and Duplex ultrasound findings including status of deep veins, superficial veins, sapheno- femoral junction, sapheno-popliteal junctions and perforators were reviewed. Associated findings of deep vein thrombosis and venous incompetence were also noted.

Results: The patient population composed of almost equal numbers of males 200(52%) and females 186(48%). Majority 197(51%) of venous Duplex examination was normal. 129(33%) of patient had chronic venous insufficiency. Similarly, 60(15.5%) of patients had deep vein thrombosis and among these deep vein thrombosis patients, 3(5%) had chronic venous insufficiency. Mean age of patients with deep vein thrombosis was 52.4±17.5 years. Males predominantly suffered from deep vein thrombosis with male to female ratio of 1.9:1. However, chronic venous insufficiency was seen in slightly younger patients with mean age of 40.8±14.7 years and males were more frequently affected by chronic venous insufficiency with male to female ratio of 1.3:1.

Conclusion: Venous duplex study is an essential tool for evaluation of lower limb venous pathology. From the study, it can be concluded that, the commonest abnormality found in the patient were varicosity, deep vein thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency.