Phlebology > Volume 24, Number 3 > Pp. 108-113

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Original Articles

Pelvic vein reflux in female patients with varicose veins: comparison of incidence between a specialist private vein clinic and the vascular department of a National Health Service district general hospital

P Marsh ^* , J Holdstock ^*, C Harrison ^*, C Smith ^* , B A Price ^* and M S Whiteley ^* 

^* The Whiteley Clinic, 1, Stirling House, Stirling Road, Guildford GU2 7RF; The Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XX, UK

Correspondence: M S Whiteley MS FRCS (Gen) Email: info{at}thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk

Objectives: Mounting evidence suggests that pelvic vein reflux is an important contributing factor to recurrent varicose veins. We compared the incidence in our specialist private unit (Unit A) with that of a District General Hospital (Unit B).

Methods: Results of all female patient lower limb duplex ultrasound (LLDUS) and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound (TVUS) scans performed over a one-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with refluxing veins emanating from the abdomen or pelvis on LLDUS (non-saphenous reflux) routinely proceeded to TVUS in Unit A.

Results: In Unit A, non-saphenous reflux on LLDUS was present in 90–462 female patients (19.5%). In 81.1% of these, TVUS confirmed reflux in truncal pelvic veins (incidence 15.8%). In Unit B, non-saphenous reflux was present in 60–279 female patients (21.5%).

Conclusion: One in five women presenting with varicose veins have reflux of non-saphenous origin. This is the case in specialist and non-specialist units. One in six has associated pelvic vein reflux.

Key Words: pelvic vein reflux • varicose veins • pelvic vein embolization • non-saphenous reflux

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