NON-INVASIVE EVALUATION OF VENOUS FUNCTION IN CHRONIC VENOUS DISEASE

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 91  (3) , 312-317
Abstract
Measurements of calf volume changes during treadmill ambulation were taken using mercury-in-Silastic (silicone rubber) strain gauges for noninvasive study of venous function in patients with chronic venous disease. Seventy-four limbs were evaluated: 24 with postphlebitic changes, 26 with superficial varicosities and 24 normal. Calf volume changes as measured by mercury-in-Silastic strain-gauge plethysmography (MISSGP) during ambulation correlated well (r = 0.8) with simultaneous obtained direct venous pressure measurements. The refill time as measured by MISSGP also correlated with the pressure restoration time (r = 0.8). Patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive patients as shown by contrast venography decreased their calf volume with MISSGP significantly less (P < 0.001) than did those patients with minimal or no obstruction of venous outflow as depicted by venography. MISSGP is a useful method of quantitatively evaluating the efficiency of the calf venous pump, the degree of reflux and the severity of venous obstruction.

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