- Trendelenburg Test (Vascular)
Assesses the competency of the valves in communicating veins and the saphenous system.
Performing the Test
- With patient supine, raise one leg to 90 degrees (empties the venous blood).
- Compress the great saphenous vein in the upper thigh. This can be done with your hand or with a tourniquet (make sure not to occlude the arterial circulation)
- Patien stands
- Keep vein compressed and watch for venous filling in the leg. This usually takes 30-35 seconds as the leg fills from below. Rapid filling above the tourniquet or hand indicates valve incompetency and/or retrograde filling above the level of occlusion.
- Release the pressure from the saphenous vein. (Sudden distal filling, this indicates incompetent saphenous vein valves.)
Note: A tourniquet can be used above or below the knee to test both long and short saphenous incompetence.
References
- Bickley L, Hoekelman R. Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. Philadephia, Pa: Lippincott; 2009.