Publication:

Clinical study of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in patients with varicose veins of lower extremities

Background The main aim is to study the association between asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with varicose veins in different gender and age groups. Secondly, to study the risk of developing DVT in patients having superficial venous thrombophlebitis (SVT) with varicose veins and finally to study the clinical correlation of clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathological (CEAP) classification with DVT in patients with varicose veins.

Methods Patients presenting to department of General surgery at SS Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre during the period from June 2017 to June 2019 with varicose veins of lower limbs and without clinical signs of DVT were included in this study. Patients were categorised according to CEAP classification. All patients were subjected to duplex scanning of lower limbs to look for presence of SVT and DVT.

Results In our study, 73% patients were males and 27% patients were females. Maximum patients were in age group of 40-60 years.16 patients had DVT, 38 patients had SVT, 166 patients belonged to C2 and 56 patients belonged to CEAP class C3 and beyond.

Conclusions There is a strong association between varicose veins and asymptomatic DVT .The presence of SVT is not a risk factor for concomitant DVT in varicose vein patients. Clinical presentation with C3 or more CEAP grade is one of the potential risk factors for concomitant DVT in vari­cose vein patients.