Resumen

PAOLINELLI G, Paola. LOWER LIMB DOPPLER ULTRASOUND FOR THE STUDY OF VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY. Rev. chil. radiol. [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.4, pp. 181-189. ISSN 0717-9308.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-93082009000500005.

Venous insufficiency is defined as an impaired venous return, which affects the superficial, or the deep system, or both. This condition may be caused either by an alteration in the muscle pump, a venous obstruction, a valvular incompetence or right-sided heart failure. It translates into a dynamic venous hypertension manifested through the development of varicose veins or trophic skin changes. The surface failure is due to the presence of veno-venous shunts that provoke a flow loss from the deep system through a vanishing point and then returns through another entry point. The study is performed with the patient in standing position, stimulating muscle pump through various exercises or increasing central pressure with Valsalva maneuver. The mapping is a graphic expression of the study, and it must show the type of shunt, location and pattern of varicose veins.

Palabras llave : Venous Doppler exam; Venous insufficiency; Venous mapping; Veno-venous shunts; Ultrasound.