COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN CLINICAL TEST AND DOPPLER ULTRASOUND IN THE PREOPERATIVE ASSESMENT OF LOWERLIMB VARICOSE VEINS

Background: Varicose veins affect 25% of adult females and 15% of adult males, with recurrence rates up to 65% after surgery. This is mainly due to inadequate initial surgery, often caused by inaccurate preoperative diagnoses. Duplex imaging has recently become the gold standard for diagnosis. Objective: To assess the accuracy of clinical tests compared to color duplex imaging for diagnosing primary varicose veins preoperatively. Materials And Methods: This observational study was conducted at Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation over 18 months, from August 1st, 2022, to Feb1st, 2024. A total of 60 patients with untreated primary varicose veins underwent clinical examination followed by color Doppler imaging. Results: Comparing combined clinical tests with Doppler ultrasound versus Doppler alone shows effectiveness, with sensitivity (85–90%), specicity (75–80%), positive predictive value (80–85%), and negative predictive value (70–75%). Interpretation And Conclusion: Clinical tests alone are unreliable for assessing varicose veins. Preoperative Doppler ultrasound alongside clinical exams improves accuracy and reduces recurrence, enhancing surgical planning.