Arterial blood flow in deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs

Abstract

Calf blood flow was measured in 19 patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limb using a mercury strain gauge. The affected limb had a significantly (P less than 0.05) higher blood flow (2.9 +/- 1.4 ml/min. 100 g of tissue) then the contralateral limb (2.3 +/- 1.2 ml/min. 100 g). Blood flow velocity in the common femoral artery measured with a pulsed Doppler ultrasound flowmeter in 13 patients was also significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in the limb with DVT (6.6 +/- 2.8 cm/s) compared to the contralateral limb (5.3 +/- 3.0 cm/s). Interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure (Pif) was measured by the "wick-in-needle" technique in the deep posterior compartment of the leg. There was a significant (P less than 0.001) increase in the limb with DVT (6.3 +/- 5.5 mmHg) compared to the contralateral limb (1.2 +/- 3.4 mmHg).