Deep vein thrombosis

Changed by Henry Knipe, 1 Mar 2018

Updates to Article Attributes

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The term deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is practically a synonym for those that occur in the lower limbs. However, it can also be used for those that occur in the upper limbs and neck veins. Other types of venous thrombosis, such as intra-abdominal and intracranial, are discussed in specific sections.

Epidemiology
  • 1.6 new cases per 1000 per year
  • 2.5-5% of population is affected
  • >50% have long terms symptoms of post thrombotic-thrombotic syndrome
  • 6% of DVT patients report eventual venous ulcers (0.1% general population)
Risk factors
  • Ageage (relative risk increase ~2 per 10 year-year increase)
  • Surgerysurgery (orthopaedic patients at highest risk: hip 48%, knee 61%)
  • Traumatrauma
  • Historyhistory of venous thromboembolism (2-9% increase)
  • Primaryprimary hypercoagulable states
    • Proteinprotein A, C, and S deficiency 10x(10x increased risk)
    • Factorfactor V Leiden (heterozygous 8x increased risk, homozygous 80x)
  • Oestrogenoestrogen replacement (2-4x increased risk)
  • Immobilisationimmobilisation (2x increased risk)
  • Pregnancypregnancy (0.075% of pregnancies)

Radiographic features

Ultrasound

The majority of deep venous thromboses occur in the lower extremities and begin in the soleal veins of the calf. Doppler compression sonography is the imaging modality of choice. Features include:

  • non-compressible venous segment
  • increased venous diameter: acute thrombus
  • decreased venous diameter: chronic thrombus
  • loss of phasic flow on Valsalva manoeuvre
  • absent colour flow: if completely occlusive
  • increased flow in superficial veins
  • lack of flow augmentation of calf squeeze
  • anechoic thrombus: acute thrombus
  • echogenic thrombus: chronic thrombus

Complications

Practical points

  • "above knee" or proximal DVT is a lower limb DVT involving the popliteal vein or more proximal vessels 4
  • -<li>&gt;50% have long terms symptoms of post thrombotic syndrome</li>
  • +<li>&gt;50% have long terms symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome</li>
  • -<li>Age (relative risk increase ~2 per 10 year increase)</li>
  • -<li>Surgery (orthopaedic patients at highest risk: hip 48%, knee 61%)</li>
  • -<li>Trauma</li>
  • -<li>History of venous thromboembolism (2-9% increase)</li>
  • -<li>Primary hypercoagulable states<ul>
  • -<li>Protein A, C, and S deficiency 10x increased risk</li>
  • -<li>Factor V Leiden (heterozygous 8x increased risk, homozygous 80x)</li>
  • +<li>age (relative risk increase ~2 per 10-year increase)</li>
  • +<li>surgery (orthopaedic patients at highest risk: hip 48%, knee 61%)</li>
  • +<li>trauma</li>
  • +<li>history of venous thromboembolism (2-9% increase)</li>
  • +<li>primary hypercoagulable states<ul>
  • +<li>protein A, C, and S deficiency (10x increased risk)</li>
  • +<li>factor V Leiden (heterozygous 8x increased risk, homozygous 80x)</li>
  • -<li>Oestrogen replacement (2-4x increased risk)</li>
  • -<li>Immobilisation (2x increased risk)</li>
  • -<li>Pregnancy (0.075% of pregnancies)</li>
  • +<li>oestrogen replacement (2-4x increased risk)</li>
  • +<li>immobilisation (2x increased risk)</li>
  • +<li>pregnancy (0.075% of pregnancies)</li>
  • -</ul>
  • +</ul><h4>Practical points</h4><ul><li>"above knee" or proximal DVT is a lower limb DVT involving the popliteal vein or more proximal vessels <sup>4</sup>
  • +</li></ul>

References changed:

  • 4. Shulman R, Buchan C, Bleakney R, White L. Low Prevalence of Unexpected Popliteal DVT Detected on Routine MRI Assessment of the Knee. Clin Imaging. 2016;40(1):79-85. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.09.008">doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.09.008</a>
Images Changes:

Image 1 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Case 91: subclavian and internal jugular
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Image 2 Ultrasound (Longitudinal) ( update )

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Image 3 Ultrasound ( update )

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Image 4 CT (C+ delayed) ( update )

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Image 5 Ultrasound (Longitudinal) ( update )

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Image 6 Ultrasound (Transverse) ( update )

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Image 7 Ultrasound (Transverse) ( update )

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Image 8 CT (MPR) ( update )

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