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Risk of Pulmonary Embolism in Patients With Isolated Great Saphenous Vein Thrombus
Akshya Gupta1, Vijay Pandya, Timothy Baran
1Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
Insights
Pulmonary embolism (PE) risk is not elevated in isolated great saphenous vein (GSV) thrombosis. However, concurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) significantly increases PE risk in GSV thrombosis patients.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Cardiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Isolated great saphenous vein (GSV) thrombosis risks are debated.
- Understanding pulmonary embolism (PE) risk is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the PE risk in patients with isolated GSV thrombosis.
- To assess if GSV thrombus near the sapheno-femoral junction impacts PE risk.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of lower extremity venous ultrasounds (2011-2016).
- Stratified patients into: isolated GSV thrombus, GSV thrombus with deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and normal controls.
- PE diagnosis confirmed via CT angiogram or V/Q scan within 60 days.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in PE risk between isolated GSV thrombosis (3.5%) and normal controls (2.0%).
- GSV thrombosis with concomitant DVT showed a significantly higher PE risk (26.5%) compared to isolated GSV thrombosis (P=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Isolated GSV thrombosis does not significantly increase PE risk compared to a healthy cohort.
- Concomitant DVT is a critical factor for elevated PE risk in GSV thrombosis patients.
Abstract:
Risks associated with isolated great saphenous vein (GSV) thrombosis remain controversial. The purpose of this study is to identify the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with isolated GSV thrombosis, particularly those with thrombus within 3 cm of the sapheno-femoral junction. A retrospective chart review of color flow Doppler lower extremity venous ultrasound examinations from an academic hospital from 2011 to 2016 was conducted. Seventy-eight patients were identified as having acute thrombus in their GSV and were then further stratified based on the presence or absence of concomitant deep venous thrombosis (DVT). A control group of 49 patients who presented with leg swelling and were found to have a normal color flow Doppler examination was also identified. Patients without thrombus (n = 49), patients with isolated GSV thrombus (n = 29), and patients with GSV thrombus with concomitant DVT (n = 49) underwent full chart review to determine whether any patients developed PE. This was diagnosed specifically by computed tomography angiogram or ventilation/perfusion scan, within 60 days of initial diagnosis of lower extremity thrombus. In our analysis, there was no significant difference in the risk of PE in patients with isolated GSV thrombus compared with a control group of normal patients (3.5% vs 2.0%, P = 0.38). However, patients with GSV thrombus and concomitant DVT had a significantly increased risk of PE compared with patients with isolated GSV thrombus (26.5% vs 3.5%, P = 0.01). We found that the risk of PE in patients with isolated GSV thrombus is not significantly increased compared with a normal cohort.
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