Journal of Surgery Concepts & Practice ›› 2024, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (06): 493-497.doi: 10.16139/j.1007-9610.2024.06.06

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The incidence of PFO-RLS in patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities

CEN Qing1, TANG Mingjun2,3, ZHU Yuefeng2,4()   

  1. 1. Department of General Surgery, Cixi People's Hospital, Zhejiang Ningbo 315300, China
    2. Department of Vascular Surgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Yiwu 322000, China
    3. International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University,Zhejiang Yiwu 322000, China
    4. Department of Vascular Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Hangzhou 310016, China
  • Received:2024-10-14 Online:2024-11-25 Published:2025-03-17
  • Contact: ZHU Yuefeng E-mail:srrshzyf@zju.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective To study and evaluate the incidence of patent foramen ovale(PFO) and intracardiac right-to-left shunt(RLS)in the patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities. Methods From March 2023 to August 2024, 86 consecutive patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities were admitted to Cixi People’s hospital, and 57 of them who agreed to take foam sclerotherapy were selected for PFO-RLS test. Results Of the 57 patients, a total of 23 patients were positive for PFO with an incidence of 40.4% (95% CI: 27.2%-53.5%) and a total of 22 patients were positive for RLS with an incidence of 38.6% (95% CI: 25.6%-51.6%). The incidence of PFO was higher than the reported incidence in the general population, which is 26%. There were no serious complications such as pulmonary embolism or stroke occurred in all patients after surgery. Conclusions The incidence of PFO-RLS in patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities in this study was higher than that of expected in the general population. Patients with lower extremity varicose veins should be aware of the associated neurological complications when choosing sclerotherapy.

Key words: Varicose vein, Sclerotherapy, Patent foramen ovale(PFO), Right-to-left shunt(RLS)

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