venous guttering
Last reviewed 01/2018
Examination for venous guttering is easily performed during Buerger's test. Elevating the legs empties the foot veins which later re-fill when the legs are dependent. In an ischaemic limb, the response to the postural change is delayed, and for a time, the veins remain collapsed. The time necessary for the "gutter" to fill up is an indication of the severity of the arterial insufficiency.