Vol. 1, Issue 1, Part A (2017)

Background: Varicose veins are a common chronic vascular disorder resulting from valvular incompetence and venous hypertension. Preoperative assessment of venous anatomy and patency is essential to plan appropriate surgical intervention. Duplex Doppler ultrasonography offers a non-invasive, reliable modality to evaluate venous reflux, thrombosis, and patency of the deep and superficial systems.
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Gouri Devi Institute of Medical Sciences, Durgapur, from March 2016 to February 2017. A total of 120 patients clinically diagnosed with lower limb varicose veins underwent preoperative venous Doppler ultrasonography. Parameters evaluated included patency of the great saphenous vein (GSV), short saphenous vein (SSV), deep veins (femoral and popliteal), presence of reflux, and perforator incompetence. Doppler findings were correlated with intraoperative findings.
Results: Of the 120 patients, 84 (70%) were male and 36 (30%) female, with a mean age of 45.3±10.7 years. Doppler detected GSV incompetence in 102 patients (85%), perforator incompetence in 69 (57.5%), and deep vein thrombosis in 6 patients (5%). Surgical plans were altered in 18 cases (15%) based on Doppler findings. The sensitivity and specificity of Doppler in detecting reflux were 92.3% and 88.1%, respectively.
Conclusion: Preoperative Doppler ultrasonography significantly enhances surgical planning by identifying venous incompetence and thrombosis. Its routine use ensures safe and tailored management of varicose veins.