Use of ultrasound by French GPs in suspected deep vein thrombosis: a national cross-sectional study

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major public health issue due to its morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis typically relies on venous Doppler ultrasound performed by specialists, but long waiting times can delay management and prompt empirical anticoagulation. Point-of-care ultrasound by GPs could streamline patient care by reducing diagnostic delays and avoiding unnecessary treatments.

To evaluate the ability of French GPs equipped with ultrasound to confirm or exclude DVT in daily practice and to describe their diagnostic and management approaches.

A national prospective observational study was conducted among GPs using ultrasound in primary care. For each patient with suspected DVT, practitioners completed a questionnaire recording clinical probability, ultrasound results, anticoagulant prescriptions, and referrals. Statistical analysis was performed with a significance threshold of p<0.05.

Sixty-one cases were included. Ultrasound confirmed DVT in 36.1%, excluded it in 60.6%, and was inconclusive in 3.3%. Venous incompressibility was present in all confirmed cases. In 56.4% of negative or uncertain cases, an alternative diagnosis was found, mostly musculoskeletal disorders. Anticoagulant prescriptions were strongly correlated with ultrasound findings (p<0.01). Additional investigations and specialist referrals remained limited.

Ultrasound performed by GPs appears to be an efficient diagnostic tool for suspected DVT. It supports timely decision-making, optimises anticoagulant use, and helps identify alternative diagnoses. Further comparative studies with reference imaging are required to validate its diagnostic accuracy and support broader implementation in primary care.