Saphenous Venous Reflux Time is an Objective Assessment Tool that Relates to the Severity of Varicose Vein Symptoms

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Elsharawy ◽  
L. A. Donaldson ◽  
A. K. Samy
1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-82
Author(s):  
M. A. Elsharawy ◽  
L. A. Donaldson ◽  
A. K. Samy

Aim: The severity of varicose vein symptoms is no more than a subjective assessment of the underlying disease. The aim of this study was to use an objective method for assessing the severity of the condition. Methods: We describe a test based on measuring the venous reflux time (VRT) using hand-held Doppler (HHD). To evaluate the efficiency of this test, a prospective study of 61 consecutive primary varicose vein patients with sapheno-femoral incompetence was carried out. Patients were scored preoperatively by a self-assessment questionnaire. The score was compared with the VRT of the same patients. Six months after surgery, a similar self-assessment questionnaire was sent to all patients. Results: The VRT was found to have a highly significant relationship to the preoperative score (ρ = 0.73, p=<0.001). It was also found that most of the patients with a low score of ≤ 3 had a VRT of ≤ 13 s whilst most with a high score of >3 had a VRT of >13 s (sensitivity 78%, specificity 100%, accuracy 84%, p=<0.0001). Only 41 patients responded to the postoperative questionnaire, giving symptom scores of 0 in 40 patients and a score of 1 in one patient. Conclusion: VRT is a simple, objective, non-invasive method of assessment of varicose veins, which relates strongly to the magnitude of the patients' symptoms.


2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-47
Author(s):  
F P Dix ◽  
S Boyle ◽  
C N McCollum

Objective: To prioritize varicose vein (VV) waiting lists, superficial venous reflux was timed in patients with primary VVs using hand-held Doppler (HHD) and classified as 'severe' (≤4s), 'moderate' (>4; ≤6s) or 'mild' (>6s). Only patients with severe reflux were offered surgery. The progression of reflux in those not offered surgery was investigated over two years. Methods: Patients seen in the VV clinic between November 1999 and October 2000 with reflux ≥4s were re-assessed two years later. Reflux was timed at the saphenofemoral (SFJ) and saphenopopliteal (SPJ) junctions using HHD. Patients completed a basic symptom questionnaire. The severity of VVs and skin changes of venous insufficiency were graded. Results: In all, 38/54 patients attended for review at two years. There were 44 limbs with 48 sites of reflux, 38 at the SFJ and 10 at the SPJ. Reflux improved at 27 sites, remained the same at five and deteriorated at 16. Reflux became 'severe' in eight limbs, but only four patients requested surgery. Median (interquartile range) reflux time was 6.0 (5–6)s in 1999–2000 and 7.0 (4–10)s in 2002 ( P = 0.13). Median symptom scores for aching and the severity of VV remained unchanged. The cosmetic appearance of VV and skin signs of venous insufficiency significantly improved ( P < 0.01). Conclusions: Mild and moderate reflux did not deteriorate in most VV patients. HHD may be a useful adjunct to grade venous reflux and prioritize patients for VV surgery.


Vascular ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 170853812110128
Author(s):  
Dominic Mühlberger ◽  
Anne-Katrin Zumholz ◽  
Erich Brenner ◽  
Achim Mumme ◽  
Markus Stücker ◽  
...  

Objectives Cellular senescence could play a role in the development of venous disease. Superficial venous reflux at the saphenofemoral junction is a common finding in patients with primary varicose veins. Furthermore, reflux in this essential area is associated with higher clinical stages of the disease and recurrent varicose veins. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to investigate cellular senescence in the immediate area of the saphenofemoral junction in patients with healthy veins, primary varicose veins and additionally in patients with recurrent varicose veins due to a left venous stump. Methods We analyzed vein specimens of the great saphenous vein immediately at the saphenofemoral junction. Healthy veins were collected from patients who underwent arterial bypass reconstructions. Samples with superficial venous reflux derived from patients who received high ligation and stripping or redo-surgery at the groin, respectively. Sections were stained for p53, p21, and p16 as markers for cellular senescence and Ki67 as a proliferation marker. Results A total of 30 samples were examined (10 healthy, 10 primary varicose, and 10 recurrent varicose veins). We detected 2.10% p53+ nuclei in the healthy vein group, 3.12% in the primary varicose vein group and 1.53% in the recurrent varicose vein group, respectively. These differences were statistically significant ( p = 0.021). In the healthy vein group, we found 0.43% p16+ nuclei. In the primary varicose vein group, we found 0.34% p16+ nuclei, and in the recurrent varicose vein group, we found 0.74% p16+ nuclei. At the p < 0.05 level, the three groups tended to be significant without reaching statistical significance ( p = 0.085). There was no difference in respect of p21 and Ki67. Conclusion We found significantly higher expression rates of p53 in primary varicose veins at the saphenofemoral junction than in healthy veins. p16 expression tended to be increased in the recurrent varicose vein group. These preliminary findings indicate that cellular senescence may have an impact in the development of varicose veins or recurrence. Further studies addressing this issue are necessary.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 1008-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Tyler Ziesmann ◽  
Jason Park ◽  
Bertram J. Unger ◽  
Andrew W. Kirkpatrick ◽  
Ashley Vergis ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 148 (5) ◽  
pp. 837e-840e
Author(s):  
Mehrad Jaberi ◽  
Jad Abi-Rafeh ◽  
Yehuda Chocron ◽  
Dino Zammit ◽  
Becher Al-Halabi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ademir Garcia Reberti ◽  
Nayme Hechem Monfredini ◽  
Olavo Franco Ferreira Filho ◽  
Dalton Francisco de Andrade ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Andrade Pinheiro ◽  
...  

Abstract: Progress Test is an objective assessment, consisting of 60 to 150 multiple-choice questions, designed to promote an assessment of the cognitive skills expected at the end of undergraduate school. This test is applied to all students on the same day, so that it is possible to compare the results between grades and analyze the development of knowledge performance throughout the course. This study aimed to carry out a systematic and literary review about Progress Test in medical schools in Brazil and around the world, understanding the benefits of its implementation for the development of learning for the student, the teacher and the institution. The study was carried out from July 2018 to April 2019, which addressed articles published from January 2002 to March 2019. The keywords used were: “Progress Test in Medical Schools” and “Item Response Theory in Medicine” in the PubMed, Scielo, and Lilacs platforms. There was no language limitation in article selection, but the research was carried out in English. A total of 192,026 articles were identified, and after applying advanced search filters, 11 articles were included in the study. The Progress Test (PTMed) has been applied in medical schools, either alone or in groups of partner schools, since the late 1990s. The test results build the students’ performance curves, which allow us to identify weaknesses and strengths of the students in the several areas of knowledge related to the course. The Progress Test is not an exclusive instrument for assessing student performance, but it is also important as an assessment tool for academic management use and thus, it is crucial that institutions take an active role in the preparation and analysis of this assessment data. Assessments designed to test clinical competence in medical students need to be valid and reliable. For the evaluative method to be valid it is necessary that the subject be extensively reviewed and studied, aiming at improvements and adjustments in test performance.


2004 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-124
Author(s):  
A. J. Allsopp ◽  
A. Shariff

AbstractCandidates who wish to undertake Royal Marine recruit training, a physically strenuous course which now extends 32 weeks, must first of all successfully complete a Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) and four psychomotor tests (Naval Recruiting Tests or RTs) before attending a three-day selection course at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, where their Physical capabilities are tested to the full. The effectiveness of theses procedures was untested until the Institute of Naval Medicine conducted a retrospective study during 1999-2000 from which the present study is taken.Data from 1232 recruits were examined to explore the relationship between the outcome of Commando training (pass or fail) with these various selection measures. Estimated aerobic power, time to complete the assault course and age were associated with outcome, as were PQA, RTs 1, 3, 4 and total RT score. A regression equation comprising aerobic fitness, assault course time, RT4 and age gave the best overall prediction of outcome (64%). It is suggested that this mathematical approach provides a scientifically valid and objective assessment tool for future selection strategies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Jakubowski ◽  
Brittany A. Leader ◽  
Stacey L. Ishman ◽  
Robert Chun ◽  
Sergey S. Tarima ◽  
...  

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