Abstract
Iliac compression syndrome may cause venous congestion, resulting in deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We experienced a case in which DVT occurred after varicose vein surgery. To assess the risk of DVT before varicose vein surgery, we introduced the preoperative percutaneous vascular ultrasonography. Forty-four consecutive patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Minimum diameter (Dmin) of the left common iliac vein (CIV), the ratio of minimum and distal maximal diameters (m/d) of the left CIV and maximal flow-velocity (Vmax) at the minimum diameter site were measured and distal flow-velocity (Vd) was calculated from these three values as an index of iliac venous congestion. The averages of Dmin, m/d, Vmax and Vd was 4.7 ± 1.8 mm, 0.66 ± 0.20, 31.7 ± 12.4 cm/s and 14.7 ± 10.4 cm/s, respectively. Dmin (R2=0.37, P<0.01) and m/d (R2=0.57, P<0.01) strongly correlated with Vd. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, m/d was able to predict low Vd under 10.0cm/s accurately (sensitivity: 67%, specificity: 92%, area under the curve: 0.83). Thus, m/d may become an anatomical index for predicting the risk of DVT after varicose vein surgery.
