Low incidence of asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis following caesarean section: a colour Doppler study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of puerperal asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis (DVT) amongst women undergoing Caesarean section.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-nine women delivered by Caesarean section underwent lower limb colour Doppler imaging (CDI) between days two and five postpartum.


RESULTS
No cases of DVT were detected using CDI. During the study, there was one case of confirmed pulmonary embolism in the early puerperium with no evidence of persisting thrombosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of asymptomatic DVT post-Caesarean section is very low and appears to be lower than that previously described using nonultrasound methods of detection. This information should be useful for those wishing to design guidelines of thromboprophylaxis for this population.
Kalro
B N
BN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.
Davidson
R A
RA
Owen
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology