DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS ULTRASOUND EVALUATION

Course overview

DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS (DVT) IS A COMMON CONDITION FOR WHICH CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS IS TYPICALLY UNRELIABLE DUE TO THE INFREQUENCY OF THE CLASSIC FINDINGS OF EDEMA, WARMTH, ERYTHEMA, PAIN, AND TENDERNESS, WHICH ARE ONLY PRESENT IN 23 TO 50 PERCENT OF PATIENTS. FAILURE TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS CAN LEAD TO DEVASTATING RESULTS, INCLUDING PULMONARY EMBOLISM, SUPERIOR VENA CAVA SYNDROME, AND ASSOCIATED COMPLICATIONS UP TO AND INCLUDING DEATH. HOWEVER, EMPIRIC TREATMENT WITH ANTICOAGULATION ALSO COMES WITH HIGH-RISK. VENOGRAM REMAINS THE "GOLD STANDARD" FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS. HOWEVER, ULTRASOUND IS THE MOST ACCURATE NON-INVASIVE TEST TO DIAGNOSE DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.