2001 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 71-76
The purposes of this study were to visualize venous valve in proximal femoral vein and to assess valve function by high-resolution US. Ten extremities from 10 healthy volunteers and 9 from 5 patients with history of deep venous thrombosis and 6 from 3 patients with varicose vein were examined by US (HDI 3000 or 5000, ATL/Hitachi). All examinations were performed during normal breathing and an intentional cough was added for increasing peritoneal pressure. Following parameters were evaluated: visualization of the valve, shape of the valve, venous flow and valve movement during normal breathing, and changes of the venous flow and the cross-sectional area of the vein just peripheral to the valve when peritoneal pressure increased. Except 2 cases, in which the veins were occupied with old thrombi, all veins were satisfactorily visualized and valve function was easily assessed. In volunteer group, all valves had a complete shape, while in patient group, disappearance or shortening of the valves were consistently observed except 1 case (p<0.01). During normal breathing, the valve tended to open and close in the beginning of expiration and inspiration respectively in volunteer group. While such valve movements were not observed in patient group. When peritoneal pressure increased, no adverse-flow in the femoral vein was observed in volunteer group, while it was always observed in patient group (p<0.01). Increasing of the cross-sectional area of the vein of more than 10% was observed in l of 10 cases in volunteer group, 3 of 6 cases in patients with venous thrombosis (p=0.2), and 4 of 4 cases in patients with varicose vein (p=0.01). Visualization and analysis of venous valves in the femoral vein were satisfactorily achieved by US. Valve dysfunction may be strongly associated with venous diseases
