Descending venography: a method of evaluating lower extremity venous valvular function.

Recently developed surgical techniques for the correction of lower extremity venous insufficiency have renewed interest in venous valvular functions. To assess the value of descending venography in the evaluation of venous valvular incompetence, this technique was compared with bidirectional Doppler ultrasound and ascending venography in the examination of 32 patients with clinical signs of chronic venous insufficiency. Twelve of these patients underwent surgery to valvular incompetence, and all underwent descending venography and Doppler ultrasound examinations postoperatively. Descending venography proved to be an effective, accurate method of diagnosing venous valvular incompetence of the saphenofemoral system.