Study Of Color Doppler Ultrasonography In Evaluating The Severity Of Deep Venous Insufficiency Of The Lower Extremities

[Objective] To study the value of color Doppler ultrasonography indiagnosing the deep venous insufficiency and assessing the severity of deepvenous insufficiency of the lower extremities. And mainly to evaluate thatwhether or not the reflux distance in superficial femoral veins in can be used asa parameter in evaluating the degree of deep venous insufficiency. [Methods] 45 patients (46 lower extremities) in patient group confirmedas venous insufficiency by descending phlebography and 20 volunteers (40lower extremities) in control group were assessed by color Dopplerultrasonography . The results of 45 patients were compared with that of 20volunteers. According to Kinster, the descending phlebography classified theseverity of venous insufficiency in four degrees. All patients and volunteersabove were examined in supine position. Valsalva method was employed inevoking reflux in superficial femoral veins. And the diameters of superficialfemoral vein, the duration of reflux time and the distance of reflux measuredby color Doppler ultrasonography in 45 patients were compared with thedegrees showed in descending phlebography. [Results] It was reasonable that reflux time threshold value of venousreflux in superficial femoral veins was defined as reverse flow for greater than0.5 second by color Doppler ultrasonography. The structure of vein and firstvalve of superficial femoral vein were showed in high-resolutionultrasonography clearly. The diameters of superficial femoral vein measured bycolor Doppler ultrasonography were correlated with the severity of venousreflux showed in phlebography(r=0.771). And the distance of reflux wascorrelated with the severity of venous reflux showed in phlebography(r=0.910).but not the reflux time(r=0.247).[Conclusion] Color Doppler ultrasonography can provide reliable imaging for IIIdoctors in diagnosing and distinguishing deep venous insufficiency. The refluxdistance in superficial femoral vein is useful parameter in assessing the degreeof venous insufficiency. Ultrasonography with its characteristics of non-damage,real-time imaging and reproducibility will play an important role in diagnosingand assessing the severity of deep venous insufficiency.