title: The association between popliteal vein compression and deep venous thrombosis: results of a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A pilot study to clarify the association between popliteal vein compression (PVC) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  It is assumed that PVC and the associated change in blood flow increases the likelihood of DVT. We have selected patients who were referred to a vascular laboratory for a DVT duplex and scanned for both DVT and PVC. Duplex criteria for the diagnosis of a DVT were lack of flow and inability to compress the vein. The study was performed over 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 54 eligible patients, 16 had a DVT. Five of 18 patients with PVC had a distal DVT (27.7%), while five of 36 patients without PVC had distal DVT (16.7%). The difference was statistically significant (relative risk 2.9, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be an association between the presence of PVC and an increased likelihood of developing a DVT. If confirmed in larger studies, this will have strong implications for patient positioning in theatres, as there is a high incidence of PVC in supine anaesthetized patients.
authors.affiliation: Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. davidhuber@me.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DeYoung
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*