Question

If a sonographer asks a patient to take in a deep breath and hold it, what is the result of venous blood flow in the legs?

1) The flow becomes turbulent
2) The flow rate decreases
3) The flow rate increases
4) The flow becomes pulsatile

Answer 1

Holding a deep breath leads to a decrease in venous blood flow in the legs due to increased intrathoracic pressure resulting in compression of the vena cava and reduced venous return.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a sonographer asks a patient to take in a deep breath and hold it, the result on venous blood flow in the legs is that the flow rate decreases. This is due to the increased intrathoracic pressure which compresses the vena cava, thereby, temporarily reducing the venous return to the heart. Breath-holding acts like a Valsalva maneuver, which has a direct influence on cardiovascular physiology, resulting in decreased venous return and consequently decreasing the blood flow in the legs.