Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions ā written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Deep vein thrombosis venography
Introduction
Editor(s)-In-Chief: The APEX Trial Investigators, C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]Ā ; Kashish Goel, M.D.; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Justine Cadet
Overview
Overview
Venography is the gold standard to diagnose venous thrombosis, however it is not the preferred test in clinical settings. It includes injection of contrast into the dorsal foot vein and checking for a intraluminal filling defect that is present in more than one view.[1]
Venography
Venography
Potential Problems
Venography has gone out of favor and is unsuitable for clinical practice because of the following reasons:
- Invasive procedure
- Expensive
- Not available widely
- Large intra-observer and inter-observer variation
- Side effects of contrast administration including severe allergy, nephrotoxicity, nausea, dizziness, etc
- Up to 20% of tests are inadequate for assessment
- Post-venography DVT (0-2%)
References
References
- ā Kearon C, Akl EA, Comerota AJ, Prandoni P, Bounameaux H, Goldhaber SZ; et al. (2012). “Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines”. Chest. 141 (2 Suppl): e419Sā94S. doi:10.1378/chest.11-2301. PMCĀ 3278049. PMIDĀ 22315268.