A CORRELATION OF AIR PLETHYSMOGRAPHY AND COLOR-FLOW-ASSISTED DUPLEX SCANNING IN THE QUANTIFICATION OF CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

Purpose: Air plethysmography has been useful in assessing patients who have chronic venous insufficiency. Limb reflux times determined by co lor-now-assisted duplex scanning have been shown to correlate with the severity of chronic venous insufficiency. The purpose of this study w as to compare air plethysmographic measurements with reflux times obta ined by color-how-assisted duplex scanning in patients with chronic ve nous insufficiency. Methods: One hundred twenty-two limbs in 61 consec utive patients with various stages of chronic venous insufficiency wer e evaluated; air plethysmographic and color-flow-assisted duplex scans were performed at the same sitting. Fifty-nine of the patients had ve nous ulceration. Values obtained by air plethysmographic scans include d venous filling index, ejection volume, residual volume, ejection fra ction, and residual volume fraction. Color-flow-assisted duplex scan v alues included reflux times in the deep and superficial venous segment s and total and mean limb reflux times. Results: Using the Pearson cor relation, the venous filling index was found to correlate significantl y with total limb venous reflux times, mean total limb reflux times, a nd venous reflux times in the deep venous system, as determined by col or-how-assisted duplex scans (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Limb reflux tim e as determined by color-how-assisted duplex scans correlated signific antly with the air plethysmographic variable accepted as a measure of the severity of venous reflux, the venous filling index. This study co nfirms the validity of total limb reflux times in the quantification o f chronic venous insufficiency.