DVT ultrasound

Background

• Non-compressible vein may be mistaken for an artery, leading to a false negative result
• An artery may be mistaken for a non-compressible vein, leading to a false positive result
• The superficial femoral vein is part of the deep venous system

Anatomy

1. Significant risk of PE:
   1. Common femoral vein
   2. (Superficial) femoral vein
      1. (Superficial) femoral vein is part of the deep system, not the superficial system as the name suggests!
   3. Popliteal veins

Technique

1. Transducer
   1. Linear array vascular probe 6–10 MHz
   2. 6–8cm width ideal (for larger patients, consider abdominal probe)
2. Compression
   1. Compress vein with transducer (probe transverse to vein)
   2. Touching of anterior and posterior walls = normal
   3. No touching with pressures sufficient to deform the artery = likely DVT
3. Common Femoral Vein
   1. Patient positioning
      1. Reverse trendelenberg or semi-sitting with 30 degrees of hip flexion
      2. Mild external rotation (30 degrees) hip
   2. 10cm distal to the inguinal crease
   3. Apply compression every centimeter
   4. Continue distal to 1-2cm beyond bifurcation of the common femoral vein (into superficial and deep branches)
4. Popliteal vein
   1. Patient positioning
      1. Prone, decubitus position, or seated on edge of gurney
      2. Knee flexed 10–30 degree
      3. Reverse trendelenberg
   2. 12cm superior, to 5cm inferior to the popliteal crease
      1. Vein usually superficial to artery

See Also

• Ultrasound (Main)
• DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis)

Source

Sonoguide.com