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Updated: May 18, 2026

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Screening for Proximal Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Published on: February 10, 2023
The association between popliteal vein compression and deep venous thrombosis: results of a pilot study
Objective:
A pilot study to clarify the association between popliteal vein compression (PVC) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
Method:
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).
Conclusion:
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.
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