Plantar Vein Thrombosis—Evaluation by Ultrasound and Clinical Outcome

• Published in: Angiology 2010-02, Vol.61 (1), p.82-85
• Main Authors: Lins Barros, Marcio Vinicius, Labropoulos, Nicos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Female; Foot - blood supply; Foot - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Thrombosis - drug therapy; Ultrasonography; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels
• ISSN: 0003-3197; 1940-1574
• DOI: 10.1177/0003319709338175

Objective: This study was designed to describe the characteristics and clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with plantar vein thrombosis. Methods: Patients presenting with sudden pain and/or swelling of the foot were evaluated by duplex scanning of the affected leg. All the main foot veins were imaged with high resolution multi-linear array transducers. The location and extent of thrombosis was recorded in detail. All patients were scheduled for clinical and ultrasound follow-up within a week from the diagnosis and at various intervals thereafter. Results: Acute thrombosis was found in the plantar veins in 11 patients of whom 7 were females. Pain was presented in all patients, swelling in 8 and the left foot was involved in 7. From the risk factors evaluated, the most common were recent surgery 4, use of contraceptive pills 3, followed by malignancy, airplane travel, HIV-AIDS infection, and past history of DVT in one each. Plantar veins were exclusively affected in 8, with lower segment of the posterior tibial veins in 2 and the great saphenous vein in 1. In the follow up, there was evidence of thrombosis extension in 3 patients. At six months partial recanalization was found in 9 and complete in 2. Conclusions: Pain and swelling of the foot can be caused by plantar vein thrombosis. Complete or partial recanalization occurs in these patients by 6 months. Thrombi in the plantar veins can progress more proximally with the possibility of postthrombotic events.