The impact of obesity on venous insufficiency.

Association between chronic venous disease and obesity has recently been studied, with indications that it may worsen in obese patients. The aim of study was to correlate clinical classes of chronic venous disease according to Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathophysiology (CEAP) classification and body mass index, as well as to compare the severity of chronic venous disease in obese and nonobese patients. This retrospective cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted at the Maringá State University and Belczak Vascular Center along a period of 2 years, consisting of a random sample of 482 patients with complaints compatible with chronic venous disease. Data obtained from patient's files included gender, age, weight and height (for calculating body mass index), and clinical class (C) of chronic venous disease according to CEAP classification. Statistical analysis included Spearman's correlation coefficient, Chi-square test (for comparing frequencies), and Student's t-test (for comparing means). Significant positive correlation between body mass index and clinical classes was established for women (0.43), but not for men (0.07). Obesity (body mass index : ≥ : 30.0) was significantly more frequent in patients with chronic venous disease in clinical classes 3 (p < 0.001) and 4 (p = 0.002) and less frequent in patients with chronic venous disease in clinical class 1 (p < 0.001). This study evidenced significant correlation between body mass index and clinical classes of chronic venous disease in women, but not in men. It also corroborated the negative impact of obesity on the clinical severity of chronic venous disease.

Lymphoscintigraphic findings: delayed oedema after great saphenous vein harvesting.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify lymphoscintigraphic changes associated with lower-extremity oedema after the harvesting of the saphenous vein using a series of short Q2 incisions for coronary bypass. METHOD: Forty-four patients (32 males and 12 females) with a mean age of 62.7 ± 7.8 (47-75 years old) were evaluated in a retrospective, quantitative, cross-sectional study from June 2007 to January 2008, three to 188 months (mean: 46 months) after the surgical procedure. Assessment was by water displacement volumetry and lymphoscintigraphy of the lower limbs. Results expressed as means with standard deviations were compared employing the Student's t-test and the chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to compare data expressed as frequencies. An alpha error of 5% was considered acceptable (P ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: The presence of dermal backflow, as identified by lymphoscintigraphy with an accumulation of radiotracer in the thoracic duct and popliteal lymph nodes was significantly greater on the operated side. CONCLUSION: There was a significant association between dermal backflow and delayed oedema.

Is the wearing of elastic stockings for half a day as effective as wearing them for the entire day?

Background There is good evidence for the use of compression for some clinical indications but little is known about dosimetry in compression. Objective The aim of this work was to evaluate whether or not the use of compression stockings during part of the day would help in the reduction of evening oedema in patients with clinical, epidemiological, anatomical and physiopathological (CEAP) classifications C0 and C1. Methods The effects of elastic compression stockings on volumetric variations during the working day were evaluated for the legs of two men and 18 women (40 legs). The inclusion criterion was classification as C0 (10 legs) or C1 (30 legs) according to the CEAP criteria. Participants used three-quarter-length elastic compression stockings (20-30 mmHg) on three consecutive days for the entire day or only for the morning or they did not use the stockings at all. Volumetry using the water displacement technique was performed in the morning and in the evening. When the patients wore the stockings only during the morning, volumetry was also performed at 13:00 h. Results Significant increases in volume were observed for both legs when stockings were not used compared with the use of stockings in the morning only. After removing the stockings, both legs had significant increases in volume in the afternoon. However, use for half the day was better than not using the stockings at all. Conclusions The use of elastic compression stockings can reduce volumetric variations during working hours, with the use of stockings for the entire day being better than for just half the day.

Rate of occupational leg swelling is greater in the morning than in the afternoon.

The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of occupational leg swelling depending on the time period of the working day. Volumetric variations of the legs of 70 hospital employees, enrolled in three groups, were evaluated. Group I: 35 morning shift workers; Group II: 35 afternoon shift workers; and Group III: 15 individuals randomly selected from Groups I and II, who were evaluated on the day they worked 12 hours consecutively. Volumetry was performed before and after each shift for both legs of the participants in Groups I and II. For Group III volumetry was performed early in the morning, at noon and in the evening. For statistical analysis, the Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used with an alpha error of 5% being considered acceptable (P value<0.05). Significant increases in volume were recorded for the limbs in all three groups (P value<0.001). On comparing Groups I and II, the accumulation of fluids was significantly higher in the morning than in the afternoon (P value<0.003). Asymptomatic workers may present with oedema of the legs during their work with the rate of oedema being different for morning and afternoon shifts. The possibility of wearing compression stockings should be considered for this type of work.

Correlation of haemodynamics and ankle mobility with clinical classes of clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological classification in venous disease.

OBJECTIVES: To correlate venous haemodynamic parameters of lower limbs and amplitude of ankle mobility with the clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological classification (CEAP) for venous disease. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-four lower limbs of 142 Caucasian women were evaluated and distributed in six groups according to the CEAP classification: Group I = C0 and C1 (n = 24); Group II = C2 (n = 30); Group III = C3 (n = 27); Group IV = C4 (n = 23); Group V = C5 (n = 20) and Group VI = C6 (n = 18). Goniometric examinations of ankle joints and air plethysmography (APG) were performed. Analysis of variance and the Bonferroni correction, Kruskal-Wallis' non-parametric and Dunn tests were utilized for statistical analysis with the level of significance being set at 5% (P value < 0.05). RESULTS: There were significant restrictions in ankle mobility seen by goniometry at the C5 stage. In addition, significant changes in the venous-filling index were identified at C2, changes in the ejection fraction at C4 and changes in the residual volume fraction at the C4 stage. CONCLUSION: The evolution of the clinical state of ankles affected by venous diseases is correlated to a reduction of joint mobility and haemodynamic alterations identified using APG.