
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — 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.
Pulmonary embolism compression ultrasonography
Introduction
Synonyms and keywords: Doppler study of the legs, lower extremity noninvasive studies (LENIS)
Editor(s)-In-Chief: The APEX Trial Investigators, C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Overview
Compression ultrasonography of the legs is used to evaluate the presence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities, which can lead to the development of a pulmonary embolism (PE). The presence of a DVT demonstrated by ultrasonography is enough to warrant anticoagulation without a V/Q or spiral CT scans. The decision to administer anticoagulation therapy to a patient with a positive compression ultrasound is due to the strong association between DVT and subsequent PE. Compression ultrasonography is not the routine initial method of evaluation in a suspected PE during pregnancy unless the patient has coexisting symptoms and signs of DVT.[1] In case the compression ultrasound is negative for DVT and there is persistent clinical suspicion of PE, the negative ultrasound does not rule out PE and additional imaging tests are required.[1]
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Leung AN, Bull TM, Jaeschke R, Lockwood CJ, Boiselle PM, Hurwitz LM; et al. (2011). “An official American Thoracic Society/Society of Thoracic Radiology clinical practice guideline: evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism in pregnancy”. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 184 (10): 1200–8. doi:10.1164/rccm.201108-1575ST. PMID 22086989.
