Peripheral Venous Testing Flashcards

On a lower extremity venous duplex, a patient shows spontaneous flow in the femoral vein but no augmentation with calf compression. What does this most likely indicate?

Answer: Occlusive thrombus between the probe and compression site

Absence of augmentation despite visible flow indicates an obstructive lesion between the compression site and the transducer.

Which venous segment is best examined with the patient in a prone position during a lower extremity venous exam?

Answer: Popliteal and tibial veins

The prone position provides optimal access to the popliteal fossa and calf veins, which are located posteriorly.

What does the term 'post-thrombotic syndrome' describe in the context of peripheral venous disease?

Answer: Chronic venous hypertension and symptoms resulting from prior DVT damage to valves and vein walls

Post-thrombotic syndrome results from valve destruction and chronic venous hypertension following DVT, causing pain, edema, and skin changes.

Which parameter is most useful for evaluating calf vein thrombosis on duplex ultrasound when direct visualization is difficult?

Answer: Color Doppler filling defects and compressibility at each vein segment

Systematic color Doppler assessment for flow filling defects combined with compressibility testing at each tibial vein segment is the standard approach.

A duplex exam shows a dilated, tortuous vessel in the popliteal fossa with arterial waveform and adjacent venous signal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: Popliteal arteriovenous fistula

An arteriovenous fistula presents with arterialized flow in a dilated venous structure adjacent to the feeding artery.

Which statement about the small saphenous vein (SSV) is correct regarding its termination?

Answer: The SSV termination is anatomically variable and must be mapped with duplex before intervention

The saphenopopliteal junction is highly variable in location and anatomy, requiring pre-procedural duplex mapping.

In a patient with suspected catheter-associated upper extremity DVT, which vein is most commonly affected?

Answer: Axillary or subclavian vein at catheter tip location

Central venous catheters most commonly cause thrombosis at or near the catheter tip, typically in the axillary or subclavian vein.