A Thermographic Evaluation of Surgical Treatment for Varicose Veins

• Published in: Skin research Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 395 - 409
• Main Author: SAITO, Koji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Meeting of Osaka Dermatological Association 1987; 日本皮膚科学会大阪地方会
• Subjects: surgical treatment; thermographic evaluation; varicose veins; サーモグラフィー; 外科的治療; 静脈瘤
• ISSN: 0018-1390; 1884-541X
• DOI: 10.11340/skinresearch1959.29.395

There are few appropriate methods for objective evaluation of the effects of surgical resection of varices in the leg. Nothing that inadequacy of venous return of the lower leg due to varices causes marked abnormalities in the adjustment to changes in the body position, the effects of surgery were evaluated according to the ability of this adjustment. The longitudinal thermal gradient (LTG) between the standing and lying positions was determined in the lower leg, and thermal gradients and changes in the skin temperature associated with the shift from the lying to the standing position were assessed. In normal adults, LTG uniformly showed a gentle S-shaped pattern in the lying position, but the temperature was generally reduced, and the slope of the curve became slightly steeper as the subjects rose to the standing position. In 21 patients with varices, LTG became very steep in the standing position, resulting in crossing of the curves in the standing and lying positions. After surgical resection of varices in these patients, the sig nificant difference in the ability of adjustment to position changes in the lower leg between the patients and normal controls disappeared within about 3 months.