Doppler respiratory patterns in the femoral veins with pelvic vein obstruction

An appropriate Doppler response to valsalva in the common femoral veins has been described previously as excluding a more proximal venous obstruction. We describe our experience in three patients in whom an appropriate respon se to valsalva did not exclude a more proximal pelvic venous obstruction. D ampening of the Doppler waveforms on the affected side when compared with t he opposite limb led to the diagnosis of proximal venous obstruction. (C) E lsevier Science Inc., 1999.