An unusual case of duplicated popliteal vein and its effect on the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis

Ashwini Aithal P,Jyothsna Patil,Naveen Kumar,Satheesha Nayak B,Surekha D Shetty,Swamy Ravindra S

doi:10.3329/bjms.v16i1.31150

Ashwini Aithal P, Jyothsna Patil + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v16i1.31150

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Abstract

Background: We report in here a very unusual appearance of a duplicated popliteal vein found in a male cadaver. Popliteal vein is usually a single vein present deep in the popliteal fossa which is formed by the union of venae comitantes of the anterior and posterior tibial arteries.Methods: Anatomical variation in the lower extremity was identified during routine dissection of human cadaver.Result: We noted the presence of unilateral doublepopliteal veins which were formed at the lower end of popliteal fossa. Both the veins were found closely related to the popliteal artery and both of them received tributaries. In the adductor canal both the popliteal veins joined to form the femoral vein.Conclusion: It has been believed that such venous variations in lower limbs have important implications for diagnostic ultrasonography imaging in cases which are suspected with deep vein thrombosis. Thus this case reported in here is very helpful for surgeons for proper diagnosis and management of deep vein thrombosis and also to radiologists to aid in the interpretation of venograms.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.16(1) 2017 p.150-153

Highlights

The venous anatomy of the lower limbs is highly variable and it may be attributed to various venous malformations which occur during the late stages of development of the embryo
)LJXUH&ORVHUYLHZRIWKHGXSOLFDWHGSRSOLWHDOYHLQ '39 VKRZLQJ LWV UHODWLRQ ZLWK WKH SRSOLWHDO DUWHU\ 3$ DQG LWV IRUPDWLRQ IURP WKH YHQDH FRPLWDQWHV 9&RIWKHDQWHULRUDQGSRVWHULRUWLELDODUWHULHV669 6KRUWVDSKHQRXVYHLQ616FLDWLFQHUYH/*/DWHUDO KHDG RI JDVWURFQHPLXV 0* 0HGLDO KHDG RI JDUWURFQHPLXV suspected with Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is considered to be asymptomatic, severe complications of DVT may even lead to death which makes this conditioneven more important. thorough knowledge regarding any venous variations of the lower limb is very important for surgeons and radiologists
Lack of experience and knowledge regarding such anatomical variations could lead to fatal errors in the diagnosis as well as different surgical interventions related to deep veins of lower limbs

Summary

Introduction

The venous anatomy of the lower limbs is highly variable and it may be attributed to various venous malformations which occur during the late stages of development of the embryo. The literature contains relatively few reports on anatomic variations of the popliteal veinas the occurrence of its variation is very rare 2,3 Prior knowledge regarding such variation is important for surgeons because these veins are vulnerable for deep vein thrombosis. There was presence of two popliteal veins (upper and lower) which were formed at the lower end of popliteal fossa by the union of venae comitantes of anterior and posterior tibial arteries (Figure 1). In the lower part of the fossa, the artery was present between the double popliteal veins (superficial and deep to the artery). In the adductor canal the two popliteal veins joined to form the femoral veinunder the sartorius muscle In their entire course we found that both the veins received tributaries and the small saphenous vein drained into the upper popliteal vein in the middle of popliteal fossa

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Conclusion