Deep venous valvular function assessed with intramuscular pressure recording.

Intramuscular pressures were measured in the anterior tibial muscle with the microcapillary infusion method in 10 patients (11 limbs) with deep venous valvular insufficiency. The results were compared with pressure measurements in healthy controls (n = 8) and in patients with only superficial venous insufficiency (n = 7). The technique could differentiate patients with deep venous reflux from patients with superficial venous reflux and healthy controls. In contrast to the other two groups studied, patients with deep venous reflux were characterized by a small decrease of muscle relaxation pressure during exercise followed by a short recovery time. The method described provides a potential for evaluating regional deep venous valvular function. However, besides deep venous reflux other factors such as rate of arterial inflow, venous capacity and muscle pump function also might influence the results obtained with intramuscular pressure recordings.