Evaluation of Doppler Ultrasound Findings in Complicated and Uncomplicated Lower Limb Varices

"nIntroduction: Doppler ultrasonography has become the reference standard in assessing the lower limb veins. The aim of this study was to find differences between Doppler findings in complicated and uncomplicated lower limb varices. "nMaterials and Methods: A total of 287 limbs in 231 patients were examined by Doppler ultrasonography with color-flow imaging for the presence of venous reflux in superficial veins, deep veins and medial perforating veins, both above and below the knee. The mean age of the patients was 46.8±14.3 years and 148 (64.6%) were male. There was 155 assessments on the left leg (54%) and 132 assessments on the right leg (46%). "nResults: Presence of ulcer, infection or pigmentation were considered as a complication, thus totally 124 legs (43%) had been complicated. [29 had ulcer (10.1%), 88 had pigmentation (30.7%) and 7 had infection (2.4%)]. The presence of complications was higher in males than women (58.7% versus 23%, P=0.0001). Among 26 patients with DVT, 20 (76.9%) had a complication and among 253 patients without DVT, 104 had a complication (41.1%) [P=0.0001]. Among 71 patients with compressibility, one (1.4%) had a complication and among 154 patients without compressibility, 73 had a complication (47.4%) [P=0.0001]. Among 83 patients with narrowing, 4 (4.8%) had a complication and among 122 patients without narrowing, 52 had a complication (42.6%) [P=0.0001]. Among 39 patients with deep vein incompetence, 29 (74.4%) had a complication and among 234 patients without deep vein incompetence, 94 had a complication (40.2%) [P=0.0001]. Among 115 patients with saphenofemoral incompetence, 79 (68.7%) had a complication and among 167 patients without Saphenofemoral incompetence, 45 had acomplication (26.9%) [P=0.0001]. Among 43 patients with saphenopopliteal incompetence, 27 (62.8%) had a complication and among 235 patients without saphenopopliteal incompetence, 97 had a complication (41.3%) [P=0.009]. Among 141 patients with perforan incompetence, 71 (50.4%) had acomplication and among 139 patients without perforan incompetence, 52 had a complication (37.4%) [P=0.02]. Among all six compartments of the lower leg [above knee, Knee, medial calf, lateral calf, proximal calf, distal calf and ankle] the complication rate in spite of the presence of incompetent perforan veins were higher when compared with the situation without incompetent perforan veins in the above knee, medial calf, lateral calf and distal calf [all P <0.007]. "nConclusion: Presence of ulcer, pigmentation and infection are significantly associated with a higher incidenc