Open AccessRepeat duplex ultrasound scanning in suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): putting the onus back on the referring clinician
Author(s) -
Bryan Renton,
S Thiru,
Colin P Griffin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acute medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.14
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1747-4892
pISSN - 1747-4884
DOI - 10.52964/amja.0608
Subject(s) - medicine , deep vein , guideline , duplex scanning , nice , radiology , duplex (building) , thrombosis , d dimer , ultrasound , surgery , pathology , dna , genetics , stenosis , biology , computer science , programming language
Duplex scanning is utilised by many departments in the investigation of suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). NICE Guideline CG144 recommended repeat scanning for patients in whom the initial Wells score was ‘likely’ in the presence of a raised D-Dimer, following a normal first scan. Following implementation of this recommendation in our department there was a dramatic rise in the number of repeat scans being undertaken, all of which were negative for DVT. Introduction of an electronic message to the report, placing the onus back on the referring clinician to arrange repeat scan if deemed appropriate resulted in a fall in the number of scans being undertaken without impacting on patient outcome.