[Assessment of primary varicose veins with plethysmographic techniques]

Venous hemodynamics were evaluated by simultaneous strain gauge- and photo-plethysmographic techniques in 40 normal limbs (normal group), 74 limbs with primary varicose veins (varicosis group) and 28 limbs with postthrombotic syndrome (thrombosis group). Furthermore, the venous function of 52 limbs with primary varicose veins was assessed before and after surgical treatment of varicose veins. The mean 1/2-refilling time in varicosis and thrombosis group was significantly shorter than that in normal group. With application of tourniquets, limbs in varicosis group showed improvement in 1/2-refilling time. Varicosis group showed a significantly higher value in expelled volume during exercise than thrombosis group, and no significant difference compared with normal group. With tourniquets, the value in varicosis group was higher than that in normal group. From these results, the pathogenesis of primary varicose veins might be characterized as a high degree of venous congestion of the leg and valvular incompetence of the superficial vein system. Postoperative recording showed the improvement in venous function. However, in early stage after the operation, all parameters were lower than those in normal group. These values normalized 3 months after surgery.