Demonstration by Infra‐red Photography of the Superficial Veins in the Pregnant and Non‐pregnant Woman

Abstract

INFRA-RED rays demonstrate structures able in the London County Council not well visible to the naked eye or to a Hospitals it was decided to carry out an photographic film sensitive only to a normal investigation as there does not seem to have range of wavelength. Penetration by these been much done on this subject in Britain. rays occurs to a depth of to 2 mm. below Whilst, in the main, our results support the the surface of the skin; they are well observations of previous observers, certain adapted, therefore, €or the display of super-others have been made, particularly in ficial subcutaneous veins. Plates I and I1 regard to the details and the extent of the show the contrast between photographs of changes in the breast veins during pregthe breast taken with ordinary orthochro-nancy. matic film and film sensitive to infra-red rays. The facilities and scope of the use of Matm'ul. these rays in clinical photography have Patients (115) drawn from the Antenatal been recognized and papers have appeared Clinics at St. Thomas's Hospital and on the subject. Massopust (1936) and Lambeth Hospital were photographed to Gorman and Hirsheimer (1939) considered demonstrate the changcs in the superficial their application to the changes taking place venous system during pregnancy and thc in the superficial venous system of the puerperium. Forty were primigravidae pregnant woman, and showed, photo-and 42 were multigravidae. Cases of graphically, the enlargement and extent of various types of abortion were also inthese veins, so well recognized clinically. cluded. Their conclusions seemed worthy of re-The areas chosen for photography were examination and amplification, and in view the breast as being the area most capable of the medical photographic service avail-of showing variation; the abdomen in some 28 j

Gestação e varizes de membros inferiores: prevalência e fatores de risco

“…The appearance of venous dilatations in lower limbs or in breasts of women in reproductive age is considered a sign of pregnancy, and some women attribute the appearance of varicose veins to pregnancy and its worsening to successive pregnancies. 2 According to the literature (Table 1), the prevalence of varicose veins during pregnancy varies widely, due the use of diverse concepts, classifications and even the type of epidemiological analysis performed, in addition to regional and racial differences. Many studies on this subject present only an estimative of the prevalence of varicose disease during pregnancy (Table 1).…”

The anatomy of the arteries and veins of the breast

“…drainage, but there is a conspicuous enlargement of the superficial veins in pregnancy (6,26). So little information about the deep veins is available that no special description of them will be attempted in this review.…”