Chronic venous insufficiency patterns in lower extremity veins detected by Doppler

Objective: The aim of this study was to reveal patterns ofchronic venous insufficiency of lower extremity detectedby color Doppler ultrasound and clarify its clinical implicationsin the patients with varicose veins symptoms.Methods: Between 2006 to 2011, a total of 2006 patientspresented with symptoms of venous insufficiency wereincluded in study. A total of 3938 lower extremity venoussystems were examined using color Doppler US. Weclassified four patterns considering combinations of superficialand deep venous insufficiency.Results: Of 2006 patients, 966 had either single venousinsufficiency (790, 82%) or combined insufficiency (176,18%). Superficial venous insufficiency was observedat the saphenoefemoral junction (SFJ) in 25.5%, at theGreat Saphenous Vein (GSV) in 57.6%, at the GiacominiVein in 2.4%, at the saphenopopliteal junction in 1.8% andfinally at the Small Saphenous Vein (SSV) in 9.1% of thepatients. We found multilevel venous insufficiency showingconnections at the rate of 51%. We described fourpatterns as Pattern 1: SFJ insufficiency combined withGSV (97.9%), GSV branching (7.1%), and perforatingvein (20.8%) insufficiency, Pattern 2: Deep venous insufficiencycombined with SFJ (63.6%), GSV (76.4%), andSSV (16.4%) insufficiency, Pattern 3: SPJ insufficiencycombined with SSV insufficiency (95.5%) and Pattern 4:Giacomini Vein insufficiency combined with GSV (67.9%)and SSV (75%) insufficiency.Conclusion: Chronic venous insufficiency may show fourdifferent patterns. Our results revealed that SFJ and GSVinsufficiency combination and deep venous insufficiencyand GSV insufficiency combinations are the most commoninsufficiency patterns seen in lower extremity.Key words: Doppler ultrasound, varicose veins, venous insufficienc