Hand Edema and Venous Return after Stroke: A Preliminary Study

Background Venous congestion is hypothesized to contribute to hand edema in patients with stroke; however, no studies have specifically investigated decreased venous return in the paretic hand. Objective This preliminary study explores this relationship by objectively measuring hand edema and venous return. Methods This cross-sectional study included patients who had experienced a first-ever stroke and presented with hand edema. Hand edema was measured bilaterally using a volumeter, and venous flow volume in the axillary vein was evaluated bilaterally using an ultrasound device. Hand edema and venous flow volumes were compared between the paretic and non-paretic limbs using a paired t-test. Results Thirteen male patients with stroke with hand edema were screened. Their median age was 69.3 years, and the median time since stroke onset was 117.5 days. Flow volume in the axillary vein was significantly lower on the paretic side (64.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 41.8, 87.7] mL/min) than on the non-paretic side (115.9 [95% CI: 74.6, 157.2] mL/min). Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that venous return may be reduced in patients with stroke with hand edema. Future research should investigate the mechanisms underlying venous return impairment and other potential causes of hand edema.