Doppler Ultrasound Evaluation of Patients with Popliteal Vascular
Entrapment Syndrome
Abstract
Introduction:To retrospectively evaluate Doppler ultrasound findings for
patients with popliteal vascular entrapment syndrome
(PVES).Methods:Twenty-four patients (30legs) who underwent surgical
intervention for PVES were included in this study.The popliteal artery,
popliteal vein, and surrounding musculotendinous structures were
explored in all symptomatic lower extremities using ultrasound.
Intraoperative findings served as the gold standard. In the absence of
popliteal artery occlusion, popliteal arteries were examined using
Doppler ultrasound at rest and during a provocative
maneuver.Results:Ultrasonography in 25 cases (25/30,83%) showed that
gastrocnemius medial head or popliteal vascular anomalies were
consistent with surgical photography results.The classic type I was
found in five limbs, type II in twelve limbs, type III in seven limbs,
and type V in one limb.In the remaining five cases (5/30,17%), no
anatomical abnormalities of the popliteal fossa were discovered by the
ultrasound examination.Among these, two cases (2/30,7%) were
misdiagnosed as lower extremity atherosclerosis and popliteal vascular
depression was not found. In addition, increasing blood flow velocity
was found in three cases (3/30,10%) of compressed popliteal arteries
using Duplex scanning during active plantar flexion, with decreasing
flow at the distal end.Color Doppler ultrasound of the affected
popliteal vessels showed varied degrees of vascular structure pathology,
including arterial stenosis in ten limbs, occlusion in fifteen limbs,
and aneurysm in two limbs.Conclusion:Conclusion: Doppler ultrasound may
have a high diagnostic rate in PVES. Due to its simplicity,
repeatability, functional evaluation of blood flow, and
non-invasiveness, it can be used as a primary screening examination
modality in PVES.Provocative maneuvers could help clinicians diagnose
PVES