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HSS Journal ®
Published in: HSS Journal ® 2/2016

01-07-2016 | Original Article

Duplex Ultrasonography Has Limited Utility in Detection of Postoperative DVT After Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

Authors: Shaleen Vira, MD, Austin J. Ramme, MD, PhD, Michael J. Alaia, MD, David Steiger, MD, Jonathan M. Vigdorchik, MD, Frederick Jaffe, MD†

Published in: HSS Journal ® | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Background

Duplex ultrasound is routinely used to evaluate suspected deep venous thrombosis after total joint arthroplasty. When there is a clinical suspicion for a pulmonary embolism, a chest angiogram (chest CTA) is concomitantly obtained.

Questions/Purposes

Two questions were addressed: First, for the population of patients who receive duplex ultrasound after total joint arthroplasty, what is the rate of positive results? Second, for these patients, how many of these also undergo chest CTA for clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolus and how many of these tests are positive? Furthermore, what is the correlation between duplex ultrasound results and chest CTA results?

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted of total joint replacement patients in 2011 at a single institution. Inclusion criteria were adult patients who underwent a postoperative duplex ultrasonography for clinical suspicion of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Demographic data, result of duplex scan, clinical indications for obtaining the duplex scan, and DVT prophylaxis used were recorded. Additionally, if a chest CTA was obtained for clinical suspicion for pulmonary embolus, results and clinical indication for obtaining the test were recorded. The rate of positive results for duplex ultrasonography and chest CTA was computed and correlated based on clinical indications.

Results

Two hundred ninety-five patients underwent duplex ultrasonography of which only 0.7% were positive for a DVT. One hundred three patients underwent a chest CTA for clinical suspicion of a pulmonary embolism (PE) of which 26 revealed a pulmonary embolus, none of which had a positive duplex ultrasound.

Conclusion

Postoperative duplex scans have a low rate of positive results. A substantial number of patients with negative duplex results subsequently underwent chest CTA for clinical suspicion for which a pulmonary embolus was found, presumably resulting from a DVT despite negative duplex ultrasound result. A negative duplex ultrasonography should not rule out the presence of a DVT which can embolize to the lungs and thus should not preclude further workup when clinical suspicion exists for a pulmonary embolus.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Duplex Ultrasonography Has Limited Utility in Detection of Postoperative DVT After Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty
Authors
Shaleen Vira, MD
Austin J. Ramme, MD, PhD
Michael J. Alaia, MD
David Steiger, MD
Jonathan M. Vigdorchik, MD
Frederick Jaffe, MD†
Publication date
01-07-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
HSS Journal ® / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1556-3316
Electronic ISSN: 1556-3324
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-015-9476-2

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