[Exploration of major veins by Doppler ultrasonography. Indications and limits (author's transl)]

Doppler ultrasonography is a first-choice, non-invasive, inexpensive and repeatable procedure for exploring major veins and for detecting venous thrombosis, venous insufficiency and arterio-venous fistulae. It also provides invaluable information on post-operative haemodynamics in cases of thrombectomy, venous shunt and vena cava clip, and helps in evaluating the effectiveness of thrombolytic agents. Its sensitivity is satisfactory: in 110 patients with suspected phlebitis, there was an 86,5% agreement between the results of doppler ultrasonography and those of phlebography. False negative results are encountered with distal thromboses and, unfortunately, floating clots (there were 3 cases of undetected iliac vein floating clots in this series). It seems rational to use Doppler ultrasonography in patients with high risk venous diseases. The method will not replace phlebography, but when applied on correct indications, it may substantially reduce the number of negative or unassessable results.