1533: The Usefulness of Ultrasonography for the Initial Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Swollen Extremities

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) causes respiratory distress and often fatal. Detecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), as a source of embolisms, is helpful as a prevention of aggravation or recurrence. We will present the usefulness of ultrasonography(US) for diagnosing DVT noninvasively in patients with swollen or painful limbs, and for diagnosing recurrent DVT or post-thrombotic syndrome. For 9 years, 45 patients (female: 35) with DVT (acute stage: 16, Complicated with PE: 6 , Location of thrombus: Iliac vein 9, Femoral 26, Popleteal 5, calf/soleal vein 5) were diagnosed in 968 patients visited at our medical office due to swollen limbs. Chronic venous insufficiency, thrombophlebitis, cellulitis, ruptured Baker's cyst, subcutaneous or intra-muscle hematoma, torn gastrocunemial muscle, disuse edema and lymphedema are diagnosed finally by noninvasive US after having differentiated from systemic edema (i.e. congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic failure, etc). Also calf vein thrombus, which extend to involve the proximal veins and cause PE, is identified reliably by US. Because noninvasive US can be easily performed in medical office, it is extremely useful in the screening examination for patients with swollen limbs. Pulmonary embolism (PE) causes respiratory distress and often fatal. Detecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), as a source of embolisms, is helpful as a prevention of aggravation or recurrence. We will present the usefulness of ultrasonography(US) for diagnosing DVT noninvasively in patients with swollen or painful limbs, and for diagnosing recurrent DVT or post-thrombotic syndrome. For 9 years, 45 patients (female: 35) with DVT (acute stage: 16, Complicated with PE: 6 , Location of thrombus: Iliac vein 9, Femoral 26, Popleteal 5, calf/soleal vein 5) were diagnosed in 968 patients visited at our medical office due to swollen limbs. Chronic venous insufficiency, thrombophlebitis, cellulitis, ruptured Baker's cyst, subcutaneous or intra-muscle hematoma, torn gastrocunemial muscle, disuse edema and lymphedema are diagnosed finally by noninvasive US after having differentiated from systemic edema (i.e. congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, hepatic failure, etc). Also calf vein thrombus, which extend to involve the proximal veins and cause PE, is identified reliably by US. Because noninvasive US can be easily performed in medical office, it is extremely useful in the screening examination for patients with swollen limbs.