DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS OF THE LOWER LIMBS DIAGNOSED BY ULTRASOUND

This study investigates the accuracy of the ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter in making or excluding a diagnosis of femoral and/or popliteal vein thrombosis in a group of hospital patients with possible venous thrombosis. Ultrasonic diagnosis gave positive results in all 17 cases of femoral and/or popliteal vein thrombosis. In 54 limbs without femoral or popliteal thrombosis, the diagnosis was excluded by ultrasound in 96% of cases. In both groups, ultrasound was superior to physical signs in making the correct diagnosis. It is maintained that femoral and/or popliteal vein thrombosis is associated with a high incidence of pulmonary embolism and is the main cause of pulmonary embolism from the lower limbs. The ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter accurately distinguishes whether or not femoral or popliteal vein thrombosis is present and is therefore a good screening test for patients who are at risk from thromboembolism.