2. Normal venous flow
Spontaneity Spontaneous flow without augmentation
Phasicity Flow changes with respiration
Compression Transverse plane
Augmentation Compression distal to site of examination
Patency below site of examination
Valsalva Deep breath, strain while holding breath
Patency of abdominal & pelvic veins
3. Normal venous flow
Spontaneity Spontaneous flow without augmentation
Phasicity Flow changes with respiration
Compression Transverse plane
Augmentation Compression distal to site of examination
Patency below site of examination
Valsalva Deep breath, strain while holding breath
Patency of abdominal & pelvic veins
4. Normal venous flow
Spontaneity Spontaneous flow without augmentation
Phasicity Flow changes with respiration
Compression Transverse plane
Augmentation Compression distal to site of examination
Patency below site of examination
Valsalva Deep breath, strain while holding breath
Patency of abdominal & pelvic veins
6. Normal venous flow
Spontaneity Spontaneous flow without augmentation
Phasicity Flow changes with respiration
Compression Transverse plane
Augmentation Compression distal to site of examination
Patency below site of examination
Valsalva Deep breath, strain while holding breath
Patency of abdominal & pelvic veins
7. Compressibility of veins
Do not press too hard since the normal vein collapses
very easily making it difficult to find
9. Incompressibility = Thrombus
Do not compress vein more than necessary in acute thrombus
Fear of detaching thrombus to cause PE
Myers KA & Clough A. Making sense of vascular ultrasound. Arnold, London, 2004.
10. Transverse compression of veins
Normal vein
Complete collapse
Nonocclusive thrombosed vein
Partial collapse
Completely thrombosed vein
No collapse
Hamper UM et al. Radiol Clin N Am 2007 ; 45 : 525 – 547.
11. Normal venous flow
Spontaneity Spontaneous flow without augmentation
Phasicity Flow changes with respiration
Compression Transverse plane
Augmentation Compression distal to site of examination
Patency below site of examination
Valsalva Deep breath, strain while holding breath
Patency of abdominal & pelvic veins
13. Normal venous flow
Spontaneity Spontaneous flow without augmentation
Phasicity Flow changes with respiration
Compression Transverse plane
Augmentation Compression distal to site of examination
Patency below site of examination
Valsalva Deep breath, strain while holding breath
Patency of abdominal & pelvic veins
16. Venous valve
Two cups of a valve clearly seen
It is uncommon to see venous valves with this clarity
Stasis of blood evident behind one of the valve cups