In assessing venous insufficiency, what key feature does continuous wave Doppler identify?

Continuous wave Doppler ultrasound is particularly effective in assessing venous flow patterns, especially in identifying the presence of venous insufficiency. When evaluating venous insufficiency, one of the critical functions of continuous wave Doppler is to analyze how blood flow responds to external compression, which is a fundamental aspect of determining venous function.

Flow augmentation with compression is indicative of healthy venous function, where the veins should exhibit increased flow during compression due to the increase in venous return to the heart. In the case of venous insufficiency, this flow augmentation might not occur as expected, highlighting impaired venous return and confirming the diagnosis of venous insufficiency.

Other features, such as venous flow reversibility, pressure gradients, or wall compliance, might also play roles in the broader assessment of vascular health, but they are not the primary focus of what continuous wave Doppler specifically identifies in this context. Hence, the ability to observe flow augmentation under compression stands out as the key feature in the assessment of venous insufficiency using continuous wave Doppler.