Deep venous thrombosis: value of self-augmentation US evaluation

In 10 healthy volunteers (three men and seven women, aged 24-35 years [mean, 27 years]) and 28 patients (11 men and 17 women, aged 38-74 years [mean, 60 years]) with symptoms for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), self-augmentation ultrasound (US) scanning was performed. The technique resulted in diagnostically useful venous flow augmentation in the femoropopliteal veins in all 10 (100%) limbs of volunteers, in 25 of 27 (93%) limbs of patients without DVT, and in two of seven (29%) limbs of patients with DVT. Of the patients in whom self-augmentation failed, two could not perform the maneuver and five had scans positive for DVT.