MOBILE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY / DOPPLER

VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY / DOPPLER

DUPLEX SCANNING IN DVT AND VI

Noninvasive evaluation of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) has become an important technique because of the unreliability of the physical exam, the invasive nature of venography, and the potential danger of resultant pulmonary emboli. Doppler ultrasound and plethysmography (PVR,IPG, PRG) are the most commonly used noninvasive procedures, but are limited by their inability to accurately detect non-occlusive major thrombi and calf thrombil. Furthermore, these tests do not determine the nature and location of the thrombus.Duplex scanning has gained wide acceptance in carotid evaluation. Talbot first introduced the concept of clinically utilizing Real time B-Mode imaging in the extremity veins in a preliminary report in 1982. Since that time, several investigators have reported on the success of Duplex scanning in the noninvasive diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis.In order to master the technique of Duplex scanning in DVT evaluation, one must know the anatomy in transverse and sagittal planes.

VENOUS--DOPPLER.

It is important to remember that plethysmographic and non-imaging Doppler modalities do not detect directly the presence of DVT in an extremity, but they can detect significant obstruction to venous outflow. The direct, noninvasive detection of deep venous thrombosis can be made only with an imaging technique. Although duplex ultrasound imaging is now the method of choice for the detection of DVT, venous Doppler is an important component of the duplex technique.