Trendelenburg's test
Encyclopedia
Trendelenburg's test is a test of the saphenous
and other veins for varicosities. A patient in a supine position and elevate leg to 90 degrees for about one minute to empty the leg of venous blood. Occlude the great saphenous vein with manual compression (not enough force to avoid occluding the deeper veins though). Ask patient to stand while keeping the vessel compressed and observe for venous filling in the leg. Normally the saphenous vein fills from below, taking around 35 seconds for blood to fill the veins. Rapid filling of the superficial veins while the saphenous vein is occluded indicates incompetent valves in the communicating veins. Blood flows quickly in a retrograde direction from the deep veins to the saphenous system when the deep valves are incompetent. After the patient has been standing for 20 seconds, release the compression and look for sudden additional filling. Normally there is none because competent valves block backflow and only slow venous filling continues from below. Sudden additional filling of veins after release of compression indicates incompetent valves in the saphenous vein (superficial system). When both steps are normal (deep and superficial venous systems) the response is termed negative-negative. Negative-positive, positive-negative and positive-positive responses may occur.
It is named for Friedrich Trendelenburg
.
It should not be confused with Trendelenburg's sign
, which involves the muscles of the hip.
Great saphenous vein
The great saphenous vein , also long saphenous vein, is the large superficial vein of the leg and thigh.The terms "safaina" and "el safin" have both been claimed as the origin for the word "saphenous."-Path:The GSV originates from where the dorsal vein of the first digit...
and other veins for varicosities. A patient in a supine position and elevate leg to 90 degrees for about one minute to empty the leg of venous blood. Occlude the great saphenous vein with manual compression (not enough force to avoid occluding the deeper veins though). Ask patient to stand while keeping the vessel compressed and observe for venous filling in the leg. Normally the saphenous vein fills from below, taking around 35 seconds for blood to fill the veins. Rapid filling of the superficial veins while the saphenous vein is occluded indicates incompetent valves in the communicating veins. Blood flows quickly in a retrograde direction from the deep veins to the saphenous system when the deep valves are incompetent. After the patient has been standing for 20 seconds, release the compression and look for sudden additional filling. Normally there is none because competent valves block backflow and only slow venous filling continues from below. Sudden additional filling of veins after release of compression indicates incompetent valves in the saphenous vein (superficial system). When both steps are normal (deep and superficial venous systems) the response is termed negative-negative. Negative-positive, positive-negative and positive-positive responses may occur.
It is named for Friedrich Trendelenburg
Friedrich Trendelenburg
Friedrich Trendelenburg was a German surgeon. He was son of the philosopher Friedrich Adolf Trendelenburg, father of the pharmacologist Paul Trendelenburg and grandfather of the pharmacologist Ullrich Georg Trendelenburg.Trendelenburg was born in Berlin and studied medicine at the University of...
.
It should not be confused with Trendelenburg's sign
Trendelenburg's sign
Trendelenburg's sign is found in people with weak or paralyzed abductor muscles of the hip, namely gluteus medius and minimus. It is named after the German surgeon Friedrich Trendelenburg....
, which involves the muscles of the hip.