Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interpretation of venous occlusion plethysmography using a nonlinear model

  • Published:
Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) is a noninvasive technique widely employed for the detection of deep-vein thrombosis. Previous reports that VOP outflow curves are closely fit by a first-order exponential suggest that venous compliance and resistance are nearly constant. Typically, however, the venous compliance function has a sigmoid shape; in addition, the resistance in a collapsing tube must increase. This paradox was resolved by the surprising finding that for realistic nonlinear compliance and resistance these nonlinearities cancel, producing a quasilinear venous outflow that approximates a simple exponential.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A :

area m2

C :

compliancedV/dP m5N−1

D :

diameter m

g :

gravitational acceleration m s−2

H c :

height or elevation of the calf m

h l :

head loss m

L :

length m

P c :

calf venous blood pressure N m−2

P h :

right heart blood pressure N m−2

Q :

rate of calf emptying (V′ c=V′b) m3 s−1

R :

flow resistance ΔP/Q N s m−5

t :

time s

U :

average velocity m s−1

V c :

segmental calf volume including tissues (V 1) and blood (V b) m3

ΔV c :

change in calf volume due to venous blood volume change =V b m3

VC :

venous capacitance = ΔV c/Vc immediately prior to release of thigh occlusion pressure per cent

ϱ:

density kg m−3

μ:

dynamic (absolute) viscosity N s m−2

b :

blood

c :

calf

h :

heart

0:

initial or resting value

References

  • Anderson, F. A. Jr. andWheeler, H. B. (1979) Venous occlusion plethysmography for the detection of venous thrombosis.Med. Instrum.,13, 350–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, F. A. Jr. (1984) Quantification of the degree of venous outflow obstruction from venous occlusion plethysmography. Doctoral Dissertation. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnahan, B., Luther, H. A. andWilkes, J. O. (1969)Applied numerical methods. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, 363–366.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Caro, C. G., Pedley, R. C. andSeed, W. A. (1978)The mechanics of the circulation. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahn, I. andEiriksson, E. (1968) Plethysmographic diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis of the leg.Acta. Chir. Scand., Suppl. 398, 33–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, B. (1970) Venous pressure changes during congestion.Acta. Med. Scand.,188, 447–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewlett, A. W. andvan Zwaluwenburg, J. G. (1909) The rate of blood flow in the arm.Heart,1, 87–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hull, R., Hirsh, J., Sackett, D. L., Taylor, D. W., Carter, E., Turpie, A. G. G., Zielinsky, A., Powers, P. andGent, M. (1981) Replacement of venography in suspected venous thrombosis by impedance plethysmography and125I-fibrinogen leg scanning.Ann. Intern. Med.,94, 12–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffrin, M. Y. (1976) Rationale of plethysmographic detection of deep venous thrombosis. Proc. 29th Ann. Conf. on Eng. in Med. and Biol.,18, 317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, S. M., Peura, R. A., Wheeler, H. B. andAnderson, F. A. Jr. (1975) Quantification of the venous outflow portion of an impedance phlebogram. Proc. 3rd Ann. New England Bioeng. Conf., Pergamon Press, New York, 159–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, T. andGrant, R. (1925) Observation upon reactive hyperemia in man.Heart,12, 73–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludbrook, J. (1966)Aspects of venous function in the lower limbs. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seagar, A. D., Gibbs, J. M. andDavis, F. M. (1984) Interpretation of venous occlusion plethysmographic measurements using a simple model.Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput.,22, 12–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strandness, D. E. andSumner, D. S. (1975)Hemodynamics for surgeons. Grune & Stratton, New York, 496–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, H. B., O'Donnell, J. A., Anderson, F. A. Jr. andBenedict, K. Jr. (1974) Occlusive impedance plethysmography: a diagnostic procedure for venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.Progr. Cardiovasc. Dis.,17, 199–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, H. B., andAnderson, F. A. Jr. (1982) Impedance plethysmography. InManual for the vascular diagnostic laboratory.Yao, S. J. T. andKempozinski, R. F. (Eds.), Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, 277–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, H. B., andAnderson, F. A. Jr. (1985) The diagnosis of venous thrombosis by impedance plethysmography. InNoninvasive diagnostic techniques in vascular disease, 3rd. ed.Bernstein, E. F. (Ed.), C.V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, 755–765.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, F. M. (1974)Viscous fluid flow. McGraw-Hill, New York.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, 01605, Worcester, MA, USA

    F. A. Anderson Jr. & H. Brownell Wheeler

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 01609, Worcester, MA, USA

    W. W. Durgin

Authors
  1. F. A. Anderson Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. W. Durgin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Brownell Wheeler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Anderson, F.A., Durgin, W.W. & Wheeler, H.B. Interpretation of venous occlusion plethysmography using a nonlinear model. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 24, 379–385 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442692

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442692

Keywords

Search

Navigation