Validation study for use of an algorithm for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in out-patients

Elie D. Aboulafia; Joann Liebow; Mariya Gesina

doi:10.1007/BF01616413

International Journal of Angiology, Table of Contents

Int J Angiol 2001; 10(2): 103-105
DOI: 10.1007/BF01616413

Original Articles

Validation study for use of an algorithm for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in out-patients

Elie D. Aboulafia¹ ² , Joann Liebow, Mariya Gesina

¹Clinical Professor of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,
²Clinical Professor of Surgery, Michigan State University (COM), East Lansing, Michigan

Presented in part at the 42nd Annual World Congress International College of Angiology, San Diego, California, June 2000.

Abstract

PDF Download

Abstract

In a previous study we demonstrated that the use of an algorithm can decrease unnecessary emergency venous duplex evaluations (VDE) in out-patients and increase the percentage of positive yields. The present study was undertaken to validate the safety of following such an algorithm. During a six month period we suspended the application of the algorithm and performed VDE on all requests for out-patients. A total of 94 requests were received from the Emergency Department and all were honored. Of the 94 out-patients who underwent emergency VDE for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), eleven were positive for DVT (11.8%) and 83 were negative (88.2%). Had the algorithm been applied for patients screening, all the 11 positive studies would have gone to emergency VDE (100%). 10 patients had proximal DVT and 1 had isolated peroneal DVT. The application of an algorithm for inclusion/exclusion of out-patients for emergency VDE is a safe and effective means for limiting emergency access to the non-invasive vascular laboratory.

PDF (365 kb)