How does a nurse assess the competence of venous valves in patients who have varicose veins?
A) Notes how quickly veins fill after lifting one leg above the level of the heart.
B) Assesses for Homan sign in both lower extremities while the patient is supine.
C) Assesses capillary refill on the toes of both feet while the patient is sitting in the chair.
D) Measures the circumference of both calves and compares the results.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Noting how quickly veins fill after lifting one leg above the level of the heart is the procedure to test for incompetent veins. Homan sign is an unreliable test for deep vein thrombosis. Assessing capillary refill assesses perfusion (blood flow from arteries) rather than competence of venous valves. Measuring the circumference of both calves and comparing the results is used to assess deep vein thrombosis.

How Does a Nurse Assess the Competence of Venous Valves