ISSN : 1301-5680
e-ISSN : 2149-8156
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery     
Lower extremity venous Duplex ultrasonographic findings in nurses before and after nightshifts
Can Özütemiz1, Aytaç Gülcü2, Timur Köse3
1Department of Radiology, Bayındır State Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
2Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty of Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
3Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty of Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2016.12296
Background: This study aims to investigate whether prolonged standing changed Duplex ultrasonography findings in nurses using two different reflux provocation techniques and to assess whether the findings of these techniques were in agreement.

Methods: Between February 2014 and July 2014, 32 nurses (30 females, 2 males; mean age 31.3±5.1 years; range 23 to 46 years) with a total of 64 lower extremities were evaluated prospectively using the Duplex ultrasonography before and after 12 hour nightshifts. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed by a single radiologist under similar conditions. Duration of working of the nurses was noted and examined prior to nightshifts and immediately following the nightshifts. Reflux was provoked by manual compression and Valsalva maneuver. Pretibial edema noted. Spectral data were obtained from deep and superficial vein segments.

Results: Prior to nightshifts, there was edema in only one nurse; however, bilateral edema developed in five additional nurses after nightshifts (p=0.002). Working duration of nurses with pretibial edema was significantly longer. In all vein segments, we found no significant differences in measurements before and after nightshifts using either technique (p>0.05). Manual compression and Valsalva maneuver showed either “no” or “poor” agreement in deep veins, while they showed either “fair” or “good” agreement in superficial veins.

Conclusion: Our study results show that both reflux provocation techniques yield similar outcomes before and after nightshifts with significantly increased pretibial edema after nightshifts.

Keywords : Doppler; Duplex ultrasonography; nurse; prolonged standing; venous insufficiency
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