Duplex ultrasound for superficial venous insufficiency

The most important part of effectively treating a patient with superficial venous insufficiency is making an accurate diagnosis of its cause and creating a map of the incompetent pathways. A history and physical examination can provide a great deal of information; however, a duplex ultrasound examination can definitively identify the pattern of incompetence in most cases. In this presentation, the rationale for performing duplex ultrasound in almost all patients with superficial venous insufficiency will be established. The details of the examination and the findings will then be reviewed.