A venous hemodynamic model and measurement of venous reflux in the lower limb during walking—Proof of concept

Le résumé fourni par la source

OBJECTIVE: Air plethysmography (APG) is an established plethysmographic method of measuring leg volume changes in absolute units (mL or mL/s) during tiptoeing. However, tiptoe movements use different muscles from walking and the question of how physiological APG measurements during tiptoeing are has never been answered. The recent development of a commercially available wireless APG enables one to obtain measurements during walking. The aim of our pilot study was to (a) validate a venous hemodynamic model of blood volume changes in the leg during walking and (b) determine the magnitude of reflux per step in patients with venous reflux using this model. METHODS: ) in milliliters, residual volume fraction during steady state as a percentage, ejection fraction (EF) as a percentage and inflow into the leg (I), which included reflux and arterial inflow in mL/step. RESULTS: , EF, and I were higher in limbs with reflux compared with limbs without reflux by 67% (P < .007), 44% (P = .009), and 156% (P < .001) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: and EF indicates a compensatory mechanism. This is the first time such a measurement has been possible because of the availability of wireless air plethysmography. It offers an opportunity for further studies to answer questions such as what the effect of iliac stenting or valvuloplasty are on reflux during walking.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.