Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis pp 463–471Cite as

Plethysmographic Techniques in the Diagnosis of Venous Disease

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 2859 Accesses

Abstract

Various techniques of plethysmography have been developed to evaluate venous function in the lower extremity. They have been extensively investigated, but have been replaced with color duplex scanning for the anatomic examination of the deep and superficial venous systems. In the current management of venous disease, plethysmography is useful to assist in the management of complex venous disease when multiple anatomic abnormalities are identified and to document improvement in venous function after interventions are performed. In this way, it functions similarly to an ankle-brachial index to document improvement after arterial revascularization is performed.

Several plethysmographic techniques have been developed employing different sensors to measure changes in blood volume in a limb including strain-gauge plethysmography (SGP), impedance plethysmography (IPG), photoplethysmography (PPG), and air plethysmography (APG). These will be described in detail after the general concepts of plethysmographic evaluation for reflux and obstruction are reviewed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   249.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Sumner DS. Diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. In: Rutherford RB, editor. Vascular surgery. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company; 1995. p. 1698–743.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Sumner DS. Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis by straingauge plethysmography. In: Bernstein EF, editor. Vascular diagnosis. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby; 1993. p. 811–9.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barnes RW, Collicott PE, Sumner DS, et al. Noninvasive quantitation of venous hemodynamics in postphlebitic syndrome. Arch Surg. 1973;107:807.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wheeler HB, Anderson Jr FA. Impedance plethysmography. In: Kempczinski RF, Yao JST, editors. Practical noninvasive vascular diagnosis. Chicago: Mosby; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wheeler HB, Anderson Jr FA. Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis by impedance plethysmography. In: Bernstein EF, editor. Vascular diagnosis. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby; 1993. p. 820–9.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Owens LV, Farber MA, Young ML. The value of air plethysmography in predicting clinical outcome after surgical treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. J Vasc Surg. 2000;32:961–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. AbuRahma AF. Strain-gauge plethysmography in diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. In: AbuRahma AF, Diethrich EB, editors. Current noninvasive vascular diagnosis. Littleton: PSG Publishing Company, Inc.; 1988. p. 271–81.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hallbook T, Gothlin J. Strain-gauge plethysmography and phlebography in diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. Acta Chir Scand. 1971;137:37.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Barnes RW, Collicott PE, Mozersky DJ, et al. Noninvasive quantitation of maximum venous outflow in acute thrombophlebitis. Surgery. 1972;72:971.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rooke TW, Heser JL, Osmundson PJ. Exercise strain-gauge venous plethysmography: evaluation of a “new” device for assessing lower limb venous incompetence. Angiology. 1992;43:219.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hull R, van Aken WG, Hirsch J, et al. Impedance plethysmography: using the occlusive cuff technique in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis. Circulation. 1976;53:696.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hall R, Hirsch J, Sackett DL. Impedance plethysmography: the relationship between venous filling and sensitivity and specificity for proximal vein thrombosis. Circulation. 1978;53:696.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wheeler HB. Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis: review of clinical evaluation and impedance plethysmography. Am J Surg. 1985;150:7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Comerata AJ, Katz ML, Grossi RJ, et al. The comparative value of noninvasive testing for diagnosis and surveillance of deep venous thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 1988;7:40.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Agnelli G, Cosmi B, Radicchia S, et al. Features of thrombi and diagnostic accuracy of impedance plethysmography in symptomatic and asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis. Thromb Haemost. 1993;70(2):266.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Abramowitz HB, Queral LA, Flinn WR, et al. The use of photoplethysmography in the assessment of venous insufficiency: a comparison to venous pressure measurements. Surgery. 1979;86:434–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nicolaides AN, Miles C. Photoplethysmography in the assessment of venous insufficiency. J Vasc Surg. 1987;5:405.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Criado E. Laboratory evaluation of the patient with chronic venous insufficiency. In: Rutherford RB, editor. Vascular surgery. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company; 1995. p. 1771–85.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Marston WA, Christopoulos DG, et al. Air plethysmography and the effect of elastic compression on venous hemodynamics of the leg. J Vasc Surg. 1987;5:148–59.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Back TL, et al. Limited range of motion is a significant factor in venous ulceration. J Vasc Surg. 1995;22(5):519–23.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Christopoulos D, Nicolaides AN, Szendro G. Venous reflux: quantitation and correlation with the clinical severity of chronic venous disease. Br J Surg. 1988;75:352–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Nicolaides AN, Sumner DS, editors. Investigation of patients with deep vein thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency. London: Med-Orion; 1991. p. 39–43.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Criado E, Farber MA, Marston WA, Danniel PF, Burnham CB, Keagy BA. The role of air plethysmography in the diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency. J Vasc Surg. 1998;27:660–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Howe Jr HR, Hansen KJ, Plonk Jr GW. Expanded criteria for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis: use of the pulse volume recorder and Doppler ultrasonography. Arch Surg. 1984;119:1167.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Schroeder PJ, Dunn E. Mechanical plethysmography and Doppler ultrasound: diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. Arch Surg. 1982;117:300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. McDaniel HB, Marston WA, Farber MA, et al. Recurrence of chronic venous ulcers on the basis of clinical, etiologic, anatomic, and pathophysiologic criteria and air plethysmography. J Vasc Surg. 2002;35(4):723.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Bays RA, Healy DA, Atnip RG, et al. Validation of air plethysmography, photoplethysmography, and duplex ultrasonography in the evaluation of severe venous stasis. J Vasc Surg. 1994;20(5):721.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vascular Surgery, UNC Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Shadi Abu-Halimah M.D.

  2. Vascular Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, UNC Hospitals, 3024 Burnett Womack Bldg. CB #7212, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    William A. Marston M.D.

Authors
  1. Shadi Abu-Halimah M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. William A. Marston M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William A. Marston M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Dept. Surgery, West Virginia University, MacCorkle Ave. SE 3100, Charleston, 25304, West Virginia, USA

    Ali F. AbuRahma

  2. , Interventional Cardiology, UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Cen, 9300 Campus Point Drive 7784, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    Dennis F. Bandyk

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Abu-Halimah, S., Marston, W.A. (2013). Plethysmographic Techniques in the Diagnosis of Venous Disease. In: AbuRahma, A., Bandyk, D. (eds) Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4005-4_37

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4005-4_37

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4004-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4005-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation