Features of ultrasound changes of veins in case of varicose disease of lower extremities of pregnant and puerperant women

Abstract

The aim — to investigate features of venous system alteration in lower extremities during pregnancy and puerperal period using ultrasound Doppler angiography.Materials and methods. The results were analyzed of ultrasound angiography of the venous system of the lower extremities in 54 pregnant women (group I) with varicose veins of the lower extremities and 14 women (group II) after delivery and the end of the lactation period before surgery for varicose disease.Results and discussion. Venous walls are getting thinner and wider in diameter during pregnancy, ostial valve regurgitation with reflux up to 2 — 3 seconds is developing, numerous capillary veins in inguinal region and vulvar lips are appearing along with aneurysmal dilatation of the stem and accessory veins and vein branches that were especially often revealed in case of inherited predisposition to varicose decease. The regression of varicose disease was revealed after the childbirth in comparison with the period of pregnancy.Conclusions. Pregnancy accelerates the development of varicose disease, especially with inherited predisposition. During pregnancy walls of veins are getting thinner, vertical and horizontal refluxes and aneurysmal dilatation are progressing in the areas of venous anastomosis and along the venous trunk. After the childbirth there was a regression of varicose decease, remission of refluxes, veins’ walls recovery. Varicose involution is mainly manifested in proximal segment of thighbone (31.9 %), saphenofemoral junction (24.6 %) and less — in proximal segment of shin‑bone (9.7 %).