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DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614158
Compression Ultrasonography of the Leg Veins in Patients with Clinically Suspected Pulmonary Embolism
Is a More Extensive Assessment of Compressibility Useful?Authors
Financial support for this study was provided by the Dutch Health Insurance Council (nr. OG-D-94-90). HRB is an established investigator of the Dutch Heart Foundation.
Publication History
Received
15 April 2000
Accepted after resubmission
19 July 2000
Publication Date:
13 December 2017 (online)
Summary
We performed a multi-center study in consecutive patients with suspected pulmonary embolism to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a two-point compression ultrasonography (only the common femoral vein and popliteal vein) with an extensive examination of compressibility (from the common femoral vein until the trifurcation of calf veins). A total of 479 patients underwent the two-point compression ultrasonography. The prevalence of pulmonary embolism was 32%. The sensitivity and specificity of this procedure were 23% (95% CI 19-26) and 98% (95% CI 96-99), respectively. Extensive compression ultrasonography was performed in 461 (96%) of these 479 patients and showed comparable accuracy indices (sensitivity 25%, 95% CI 20-28 and specificity 97%, 95% CI 95-99). We conclude that compression ultrasonography has a limited sensitivity for the detection of thrombosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism within 24 h of presentation. A more extensive assessment of compressibility of the leg veins in these patients has no additional value as compared to the two-point assessment.
* Participating investigators are listed in the appendix, on pp. 975.
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