Improving follow-up of incomplete lower extremity venous duplex ultrasound examinations performed for deep and superficial vein thromboses.

Abstract: Objectives Lower extremity Venous Duplex Ultrasound (LEVDUS) is the standard diagnostic test to evaluate patients for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, some studies are incomplete for a variety of reasons including patient related factors such as pain, edema, or large leg circumference, or the presence of overlying bandages or orthopedic devices. We previously reported the frequency of obtaining a follow-up examination following an incomplete and negative (I/N) LEVDUS was low but that rates of DVT found with follow-up studies of initially I/N LEVDUS were similar to rates of DVT found with initially complete LEVDUS and therefore recommended process improvements to increase follow-up LEVDUS following an I/N LEVDUS. Herein, we report the results of appending a recommendation to obtain a follow-up study to preliminary and final reports of I/N LEVDUS. Methods Starting in January 2019 through December 2019 a recommendation to obtain a repeat LEVDUS after an I/N study was appended to the preliminary and final reports of all I/N LEVDUS of patients who did not otherwise have an indication for anticoagulation (Group 2). Patients were identified on an ongoing basis through the study period and entered into an Excel database. Group 2 patients were compared to a previously reported historic control cohort of patients identified January 2017 to December 2017 (Group 1). We compared Groups 1 and 2 with respect to the frequency of repeat studies performed within 4 weeks following an I/N LEVDUS and DVT rates of the follow-up LEVDUS following an I/N LEVDUS. Results There were 187 Group 1 and 229 Group 2 I/N LEVDUS with 28% of Group 1 and 40.2% of Group 2 studies with follow-up duplex US examination; P Conclusions A recommendation to obtain a follow-up examination appended to preliminary and final reports of I/N LEVDUS is associated with an increased rate of follow-up examinations which revealed many previously undetected DVTs and SVTs or allowed for definitive exclusion of DVT.