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Author Spotlight: Assessing the Reliability of Doppler Ultrasound in Measuring Leg Blood Flow
Published on: December 15, 2023
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'Current trends in lower limb Doppler scanning in Ireland'.
1University of Cumbria, Lancaster, United Kingdom; University College Dublin, Ireland.
Radiography (London, England : 1995)
|October 29, 2022
Summary
Irish ultrasound departments show inconsistent practices for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A lack of standardized protocols and awareness of guidelines impacts patient care, particularly for below knee DVT (BKDVT).
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Vascular Ultrasound
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis
Background:
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment of above knee deep vein thrombosis (AKDVT) are established.
- The necessity of diagnosing and treating below knee deep vein thrombosis (BKDVT) remains debated, leading to varied clinical practices.
- This variation necessitates an investigation into current diagnostic standards in Irish ultrasound departments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if a standardized practice exists for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) diagnosis in Irish ultrasound departments.
- To identify the current practices and information sources used by sonographers for DVT diagnosis.
- To highlight inconsistencies in DVT diagnostic protocols and their underlying guidelines.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was developed using SurveyMonkey to gather data on sonographer experience, examination types, and protocols.
- The survey was distributed online to sonographers across Irish ultrasound departments.
- Questions addressed adherence to protocols, reasons for deviation, and awareness of DVT management.
Main Results:
- Ninety responses were collected, revealing a near-even split in scanning practices: 49% routinely perform whole leg ultrasound, while 46% perform proximal ultrasound only.
- Only 41% of protocols were based on clinical guidelines, with 22% of participants unaware of these guidelines.
- A significant number of respondents (49%) were uncertain about patient treatment following a negative DVT ultrasound with high clinical suspicion.
Conclusions:
- A significant inconsistency in sonographer practices and scanning approaches for DVT diagnosis was established nationwide.
- Inconsistencies extend to the guidelines informing departmental protocols and the terminology used in radiology reporting.
- There is a need for national consensus on DVT diagnostic protocols, particularly for BKDVT, to ensure equitable patient care and standardized sonographer training.
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