Two-Point Compression Ultrasonography Is Inadequate to Rule Out DVT

A retrospective study quantifies the miss rate.

It is well-known that isolated two-point compression ultrasonography to detect clots in the common femoral or popliteal veins will miss some lower extremity deep venous thromboses (DVTs). To quantify the miss rate, investigators retrospectively studied patients who underwent full-leg ultrasonography at a single emergency department during a 6-year period.

Of 2451 patients with suspected DVT, 362 (15%) had DVTs detected, and of those patients, 6% had isolated thrombi in proximal veins other than common femoral and popliteal veins.

Reviewing Author

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Grant/Research SupportAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CDC; NIH–National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); NIH–NIAID–Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group; Merck; Pfizer; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Shire; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis; bioMérieux; Siemens; Rapid Pathogen Screening; Magnolia; Stago; Innovative Biosensors; Molecular Detection, Inc.; Dyax Corp.; Trius Pharmaceuticals

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Two-Point Compression Ultrasonography Is Inadequate to Rule Out DVT

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Reviewing Author