Abstract
Background
Chronic venous insufficiency affects the lives of many people and therefore constitutes a public health problem. Knowledge of the drainage patterns of reflux from varicose veins secondary to incompetent saphenous veins is essential to define the best therapeutic management.
Objectives
To determine the reflux drainage patterns from varicose veins originating in incompetent GSV, the prevalence of perforating veins (PV), and their relationships with symptoms.
Methods
55 ultrasound reports were analyzed to determine the drainage patterns of reflux from the GSV, location and diameter of PV drainage, and staging of symptoms.
Results
In 64% of the sample, reflux from varicose veins drained to PVs, in 4% reflux drained to the GSV itself, in another 4% drainage was to the small saphenous vein, and in 29% drainage was to varicose trunk veins in which no direct communication with the deep system could be identified. No associations were observed between symptoms and reflux drainage patterns or PV diameters.
Conclusions
For this sample, PVs were responsible for draining flow from varicose veins in 64% of cases. Neither PV diameters nor GSV reflux patterns were associated with severity of symptoms.
Keywords:
varicose veins; saphenous vein; venous insufficiency; ultrasonography