Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Screening for Proximal Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Published on: February 10, 2023
Serial limited versus single complete compression ultrasonography for the diagnosis of lower extremity deep vein
Raphael Guanella1, Marc Righini
1Division of Angiology and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, Geneva 14, Switzerland. raphael.guanella@hcuge.ch
Abstract:
The diagnostic approach to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has evolved during the last 3 decades. Contrast venography has been replaced by noninvasive tests. Compression ultrasonography (CUS) is currently the most widely used diagnostic test. Whereas CUS has a high accuracy for proximal DVT (thrombosis of the popliteal and more proximal veins), it has been shown to lack sensitivity and specificity for distal DVT. Ultrasonography can either be limited to the proximal veins and repeated within 1 week (serial limited CUS) or extended to both proximal and distal veins and performed on one occasion (single complete CUS). Both strategies are reliable diagnostic options for the management of patients with suspected DVT. The main limitation of proximal CUS is the need to repeat the test once in patients with initial negative findings. Conversely, complete CUS detects many distal DVTs for which systematic anticoagulation therapy is debatable and exposes patients to potentially unnecessary anticoagulation. Incorporation of D-dimer testing and clinical pretest probability assessment in the diagnostic algorithm is beneficial because it allows excluding DVT without the need for diagnostic imaging in about a third of patients.
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for diagnosing...
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above the...
