Objective: To compare the results obtained by duplex ultrasound imaging and ascending and descending phlebography in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Design: Prospective comparison between venography and duplex ultrasound imaging in a single patient group with chronic venous insufficiency. Setting: Private vascular clinic in Puerto Rico. Patients: Twenty-one patients presenting with clinical evidence of venous disease of the lower limb. Main outcome measures: Presence of valvular incompetence in deep and superficial veins as indicated by duplex ultrasound imaging and ascending and descending phlebography. Results: Duplex ultrasound imaging showed twice as many patients with popliteal vein incompetence (eight veins compared with four veins) and twice as many incompetent long saphenous veins (14 detected by duplex, eight detected by venography). In the proximal venous system, 13 common femoral veins were thought incompetent on venography, but only seven on duplex scanning; in the superficial femoral vein, 11 were incompetent on venography and three on duplex scanning. Conclusion: Duplex ultrasound scanning provides greater sensitivity for detection of valvular incompetence in distal veins compared with venography. Descending phlebography is poor in demonstrating distal venous valvular incompetence.

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