VENOUS DIAMETER AND COMPLIANCE AFTER DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS

Duplex sonography was used to measure diameters of the common femoral, superficial femoral, and popliteal veins in 56 patients followed for more than 6 months after DVT and in 17 normal subjects. Diameter chang es with Valsalva's maneuver were also measured as an index of venous c ompliance. Among patients with unilateral thrombosis, segments with re sidual disease were 0.07 to 0.28 cm smaller than the contralateral dis ease-free side (p <0.05 for CFV and SFV) with a diameter index (ipsila teral/contralateral diameter) significantly less than that of normal s ubjects. In contrast, completely recanalized segments were not signifi cantly different from the contralateral side and had diameter indices indistinguishable from normal subjects. Distensibility with Valsalva's maneuver was not significantly different from normal in DVT patients with either resolved or residual disease. Venous diameter does decreas e following DVT, but returns to normal following complete recanalizati on and is not associated with chronic venous compliance changes.