The femoral vein diameter and its correlation with sex, age and body mass index - An anatomical parameter with clinical relevance

Background The femoral vein diameter is a critical factor when assessing endoprosthetic valve size for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. To examine the previously stated correlation between body mass index and femoral vein diameter and to re-assess the anatomical and physiological demands for a valve implant for chronic venous insufficiency treatment, we measured the femoral vein diameter in 82 subjects. Method Femoral vein diameters (164 legs) were measured with B-mode sonography both in supine position at rest and in upright position during Valsalva maneuver. Result The mean femoral vein diameter differed significantly between supine position (13.6 +/- 3.0 mm) and upright position (16.4 +/- 2.6 mm). Males possessed a significant bigger diameter than females. A significant positive correlation between femoral vein diameter and body mass index was observed. Conclusion Assuming an increased femoral vein diameter due to obesity would further impair valve functionality by increasing distance between both valve cusps. For the development of artificial venous valves, it is crucial to consider patient- and condition-dependent vein dilation.