Association between Insufficiency of Anterior Perforator Vein of the Knee and Great Saphenous Vein Insufficiency in Patients with Primary Varicose Veins of the Lower Limbs

Abstract

Background: The accurate identification of reflux points in the study of primary varicose veins of the lower limbs is important in the therapeutic approach of these patients. Objective: To evaluate the association between insufficiency of the anterior perforator vein of the knee and great saphenous vein insufficiency in patients with primary varicose veins of the lower limbs. Methods: The study included 886 patients, corresponding to 1,772 lower limbs, in patients older than 18, of both sexes, undergoing superficial venous mapping using vascular ultrasound. Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.1 ± 14.5 and 81.7% were females. Great saphenous vein insufficiency was found in 38.8% of the cases. Insufficiency of the anterior perforator vein of the knee was found in 146 lower limbs (8.2%), with a mean diameter of 1.7 ± 0.15 mm, prevailing in the infrapatellar area (86.4%). The anterior tributary vein of the great saphenous vein originated leg reflux in 34%, with a direct relation of this tributary vein with the anterior perforator vein of the knee in 79.4%. An association between the presence of anterior perforator vein of the knee and great saphenous vein insufficiency (p = 0.0001) and male gender (p = 0.001). Conclusion: There was an association between insufficiency of the anterior perforator vein of the knee and great saphenous vein insufficiency in patients with primary varicose veins of the lower limbs at vascular ultrasound, and the accurate identification of this perforator vein may be important in the therapeutic approach of these patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc. 2019;32(1):14-18)