Venous ulcers and the superficial venous system.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the anatomic location of venous disease in patients with venous ulceration and chronic venous insufficiency. Both limbs of 59 consecutive patients attending the Middlesex Hospital Vascular Laboratory (London, U.K.) with venous ulceration were assessed by color duplex ultrasound scanning to determine the location of venous disease. Isolated deep venous reflux was present in only 12 limbs (15%). A combination of deep and superficial venous reflux was found in 25 limbs (32%), and in 42 limbs (53%) there was only superficial venous reflux. In just over half the patients with venous ulceration, the disease is confined to the superficial venous system. This group of patients may benefit from surgical treatment. This study emphasizes the need for vascular laboratory investigation of patients with leg ulceration.