[Not Available].

BACKGROUND

Vascular ultrasonography (VU) is the examination of choice for studying the superficial venous system of the lower limbs and using VU to measure the diameters of saphenous veins could provide parameters for planning surgery.

OBJECTIVES

To employ VU to identify the diameters of great saphenous veins free from reflux in women and determine their relationships with age, height, CEAP classification, and body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study in women with symptoms of primary chronic venous insufficiency (CEAP C0, 1, or 2) with no previous varicose vein surgery and no reflux detected by VU. The diameters of great saphenous veins (GSV) at the junction, thigh, and leg were measured with VU and correlated with age, height, CEAP clinical classification, and BMI.

RESULTS

We assessed 204 limbs in 146 women. The GSV diameters measured were 6.5 mm at the saphenofemoral junction, 4.0 mm at the proximal thigh, 3.0 mm at the mid thigh, distal thigh, and knee and 2.5 mm at the leg. In all segments measured, there were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) when diameters were correlated with BMI. There were no statistically significant differences when diameters were correlated with CEAP class, height, or age.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that the diameters of great saphenous veins free from reflux were independent of CEAP clinical classes 0/1 or 2; age; and height. However, GSV diameters were significantly related to patients’ BMI.