Visakh Prasad1
Perforator incompetence is an important part of assessment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), but the criteria for perforator incompetence and the relationship with clinical severity is not well established. AIM: To study whether measurement of diameter of perforator correlates with clinical severity of venous insufficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty five consecutive patients (168 limbs) with varicose veins were evaluated with Doppler study of lower limb veins. Clinical severity and diameter of perforators were assessed. RESULTS: 23% of patients with clinically mild disease had perforator diameter of 3mm or more, whereas, 62% of moderate and severe disease patients had incompetent perforator. Average diameter of perforator in CVI class 1 & 2 patients was 1.44mm whereas, in class 3 & 4 patients, it was 3.31mm and 3.58mm in class 5 & 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Diameter of perforator compare favourably with clinical severity of chronic venous insufficiency. This study may help to evolve patient management guidelines in perforator incompetence treatment.
