The finding of veins draining in a caudocranial direction on the anterior abdominal wall in the second patient is not typical for veins on the anterior abdominal wall. When veins are so prominent, it usually implies that there is an obstruction to the normal route of venous drainage and an alternative route has been taken. Typically, blood from the lower limbs and the retroperitoneal organs drains into the inferior vena cava and from here to the right atrium of the heart. This patient had a chronic thrombosis of the inferior vena cava, preventing blood from returning to the heart by the “usual” route.