Suspected deep vein thrombosis: is one scan enough?

Abstract

Describes a prospective study to establish the clinical outcome of patients who had undergone Doppler ultrasound for symptomatic suspected deep vein thrombosis, focusing on 142 consecutive patients referred for ultrasound investigation of their leg symptoms. Outcome measures included presence or absence of thrombus on ultrasound; re‐admission or outpatient investigations post ultrasound; and mortality at one year. Concludes that no patient with a negative Doppler ultrasound examination subsequently developed a thrombus in the following year although 18.8 per cent had died. Suggests that patients with leg symptoms of venous thrombosis but negative ultrasound should be followed up closely because of the likelihood of underlying pathology.

Citation

Robinson, B.J., Kesteven, P.J. and Elliott, S.T. (2001), "Suspected deep vein thrombosis: is one scan enough?", British Journal of Clinical Governance, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 22-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/14664100110384966