Gender and Somatotype Features of the Diameters of the Small Saphenous Vein

Abstract

Objective: to study the gender and somatotype features of the diameters of the small saphenous vein (SSV) and to search for a possible relation between the SSV, body mass index (BMI) and thickness of subcutaneous fatty tissue (SFT) on the posterior surface of the shin. Material and methods. The SSV diameter and SFT thickness were measured by duplex ultrasonography in 130 patients of both the genders and different somatotype and BMI. Results. It has been found that the SSV diameter does not depend on gender (p = 0.565) and SFT thickness (rs = 0.068). Dolichomorphic patients have a smaller SSV diameter than patients with other somatotypes (p = 0.0013). Patients with normal weight have a smaller SSV diameter than patients with overweight (р = 0.0417) and adiposity (р = 0.0165); there is a weak direct correlation between the diameter of SSV and BMI (rs = 0.228). Conclusion. The revealed information about the dependence of the SSV diameter on somatotypes and BMI could be used for the correction of the results of ultrasonography of the venous bed of the lower limbs.