title: Phlebography as the gold standard in thromboprophylactic studies? A multicenter interobserver variation study.
abstract: In 241 patients with total hip arthroplasty and entering a study on thrombosis prophylaxis, phlebography was adequately performed in 451 legs 7 to 11 days after surgery. The phlebograms were primary evaluated by 4 independent observers, and finally a consensus of the images in which disagreement primarily occurred was obtained. The diagnosis of thrombosis in the 4 primary observations varied between 65% and 83% (mean 70%) and the agreement on a negative diagnosis between 97% and 99% (mean 98%). Taking into account agreement by chance, kappa-values varied from 0.60 to 0.83 when the 6 different pairs of observations were compared. When comparing the primary evaluations with the final consensus, agreements on positive diagnosis varied between 70% and 90% (mean 80%) and on negative diagnosis between 97% and 99% (mean 98%). Kappa-values varied from 0.68 to 0.90. The factor of uncertainty in evaluation of phlebography may have to be considered when studies on postsurgical thromboprophylaxis are planned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Aalborg Hospital South, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wille-Jørgensen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borris
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hauch
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lassen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nehen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*