Measuring venous insufficiency objectively in the clinical setting

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to propose a screening procedure to assess venous insufficiency with a hand-held photoplethysmography (PPG) instrument in the clinical setting. PPG is noninvasive technology that is used as part of venous assessment of the lower extremities. Although duplex ultrasound remains the industry gold standard for assessment, there are many situations in which access or expertise is not available. The measurement of venous refill time with PPG, one measure of venous insufficiency, is becoming increasingly more prevalent in research settings; however, PPG is underused in clinical settings. Rapid venous refill time </= 20 seconds is associated with chronic venous disorders, and its measurement in clinical settings as a screening mechanism may provide useful data to augment diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. Future research is needed to establish a best-practice guideline for venous assessment in clinical settings to validate using PPG.