Access to the full text of this article requires a subscription or payment. Please log in or subscribe below.

  1. Clive Tovey, consultant in emergency medicine (clive.tovey@nglamtr.wales.nhs.uk)1,
  2. Suzanne Wyatt, consultant in emergency medicine2
  1. 1 Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan CF47 9DT
  2. 2 Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan CF31 1RQ
  1. Correspondence to: C Tovey

    Deep vein thrombosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its clinical diagnosis is unreliable. This article explains current screening and diagnostic methods as well as treatment

    Introduction

    Venous thromboembolic disease has an estimated annual incidence in developed countries of one in 1000 people.1 The disorder commonly manifests as deep vein thrombosis of the leg, but deep venous thrombosis may also occur in other veins (cerebral sinus, arms, retina, and mesentery).

    The sequelae of deep vein thrombosis vary from complete resolution of the clot without any ill effects through to death due to pulmonary embolism. Morbidity due to deep vein thrombosis includes post-thrombotic syndrome, encompassing chronic venous hypertension causing limb pain, swelling, hyperpigmentation, dermatitis, ulcers, venous gangrene, and lipodermatosclerosis.

    Pain or swelling of a lower limb is a common presenting complaint, and a wide differential diagnosis exists (box 1). No single investigation for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis has ideal properties (100% sensitivity and specificity, low cost, no risk), and often several tests are performed, either sequentially or in combination.

    Box 1: Possible causes of pain or swelling of the lower limb

    Venous

    • Deep vein thrombosis

    • Superficial thrombophlebitis

    • Post-thrombotic syndrome

    • Chronic venous insufficiency

    • Venous obstruction

    Other

    • Cellulitis

    • Baker's cyst

    • Torn gastrocnemius muscle

    • Fracture

    • Haematoma

    • Acute arterial ischaemia

    • Lymphoedema

    • Hypoproteinaemia (for example, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome)

    Summary points

    Deep vein thrombosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality

    Clinical diagnosis is unreliable

    Screening investigations include D-dimer tests and plethysmographic techniques

    Definitive diagnosis is usually by venography or ultrasonography

    Initial treatment is with heparin—unfractionated or low molecular weight—followed by oral anticoagulation

    Outpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis is safe

    With the introduction of low molecular weight heparins it is now possible to treat deep vein thrombosis as an outpatient condition. This review describes the investigations used in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb and the further management of the condition. …

    Access to the full text of this article requires a subscription or payment

    Subscribe

    Article access

    Article access for 1 day

    Purchase this article for £20 $30 €32*

    The PDF version can be downloaded as your personal record

    * Prices do not include VAT

    Rapid responses

    THIS WEEK'S POLL

    Read related article

    See previous polls

    BMJ most popular