The role of strain gauge plethysmography in the assessment of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis.
Suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common reason for medical referral to hospital. Clinical signs and symptoms are notoriously unreliable, hence there is the need for objective testing. Strain gauge plethysmography (SGP) has been marketed as a technique for excluding lower limb DVT. We therefore set out to evaluate this screening tool. Over a 2 year period, 437 consecutive patients referred with suspected DVT were assessed using both plethysmography and Doppler ultrasound. When the two techniques were compared, plethysmography was found to have a negative predictive value of 90%. We conclude that strain gauge plethysmography has a role in the screening of patients with suspected DVT but should not be used as the sole method in patient assessment.
Robinson
Brian J
BJ
Department of Haematology, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK. brian.robinson@tfh.nuth.northy.nhs.uk
Kesteven
Patrick J L
PJ
Elliott
Simon T
ST
D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D