Upper extremity venous thrombosis diagnosed by duplex scanning.
The incidence of axillary-subclavian venous thrombosis continues to rise, while reports of noninvasive methods to diagnose this condition have been sparse. A review of the records of 693 consecutive upper extremity duplex scans was performed, and a diagnosis of acute venous thrombosis was made in 123 of these patients. Of these, 85 involved the axillary or subclavian vein. Use of a central venous catheter was the most common risk factor for axillary-subclavian venous thrombosis. Within this group, 8% had a pulmonary embolism, of which 25% were fatal. Follow-up of patients with axillary-subclavian venous thrombosis at a mean of 2 years revealed that 49% of these patients had died. Of the remaining patients, more than one third had evidence of the post-thrombotic syndrome. Duplex scanning of the venous system provides a safe, reliable, and repeatable method of evaluating and following patients with suspected venous thrombosis of the upper extremity.
Kerr
T M
TM
Vascular Laboratory, Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2489.
Lutter
K S
KS
Moeller
D M
DM
Hasselfeld
K A
KA
Roedersheimer
L R
LR
McKenna
P J
PJ
Winkler
J L
JL
Spirtoff
K
K
Sampson
M G
MG
Cranley
J J
JJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001367:Axillary Vein; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality