What is Venous Plethysmography

Venous Plethysmography is done to:

• Check for blockage in a vein. Veins are blood vessels that carry blood from organs and other parts of the body back to the heart.
• Help diagnose abnormal blood flow caused by damage to the valves in the veins (varicose veins).
• Determine whether there is a blood clot in a calf vein (deep vein thrombosis).

What is being tested?

This test measures the blood flow in the veins of your arms and legs.

How do I prepare for this test?

• Wear loose clothing.
• Do not use any tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or e-cigarettes, for at least 30 minutes before the test.

Tell a health care provider about:

• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any tobacco or nicotine use.
• Any medical conditions you have.

What happens during the test?

• Your health care provider will attach a blood pressure cuff or sticky patches (electrodes) to your arms or legs. The cuff or electrodes will be used to measure the pressure changes inside your veins before, during, and after blood flow is stopped when the cuff is inflated.
• A device called a pulse volume recorder will be used to record the blood volumes and any degree of blockage (obstruction) or backward flow (reflux) that might be present in the veins.
• To measure changes in blood volumes in your arm veins, the health care provider may ask you to:
  • Do hand grips by squeezing a tennis ball.
• To measure changes in blood volumes in your leg veins, the health care provider may ask you to:
  • Lie down and bend your knee or raise your leg up.
  • Stand on your tiptoes.

The test may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

How are the results reported?

Your test results will be reported as values of the blood volume (venous volume) and the flow in your veins (venous filling time). Your health care provider will also look at the graph of your pulse readings.

Your health care provider will explain what your results mean. Normal values may vary among labs and hospitals. For this test, common reference values are:

• Venous volume: 80–150 mL.
• Venous filling time: less than 2 mL/second.

What do the results mean?

Normal results mean that your blood vessels are healthy.

Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.

Questions to ask your health care provider

Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:

• When will my results be ready?
• How will I get my results?
• What are my treatment options?
• What other tests do I need?
• What are my next steps?

Summary

• Venous plethysmography is a procedure that helps your health care provider check for abnormal blood flow or blockage in your veins. The test can be used to help diagnose deep vein thrombosis.
• Do not use any tobacco products for at least 30 minutes before the procedure.
• After attaching a blood pressure cuff or electrodes to your arms or legs, your health care provider will measure pressure changes inside your veins.
• A pulse volume recorder is used to estimate any degree of blockage or reflux that might be present in the veins.