Deep Vein Thrombosis

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The Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Legend: = Yes/abnormal, = No/normal

  Suspect DVT
  grey down arrow
Mx As DVT Common femoral
or popliteal

do not
compress! 		Veins Incompressible on Ultra-sound Compressible
down to

trifurcation 		= NO
proximal DVT
right grey down arrow		 Mx As NOT DVT
  Only superficial femoral
or calf veins
non-compressible

 grey down arrow		   Clinical distal DVT?
                     Low Risk
  Prior venous US done?
No
right blue down arrow		 High risk         
red down arrow        
Redo
  Yes
red down arrow		 Abnormal Impedance Plethysmography?
Normal
New Lesion? Abnormal
 red down arrow
crossed arrows New Lesion?

Over 4mm 		Change in diameter?
1.1-3.9mm
 		right grey down arrow blue down arrow
  <= 1mm     
blue down arrow
Redo


Intraluminal filling defect 		Venogram


All deep veins visualised,
No filling defect
  Deep veins
not
adequately
visualised
 grey down arrow
Redo
Web-page author: jo@anaesthetist.com