• Daniel J Kim, Richard L Byyny, Cliff A Rice, Jeff P Faragher, Kristen E Nordenholz, Jason S Haukoos, Michael M Liao, and John L Kendall.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• J Emerg Med. 2016 Dec 1; 51 (6): 684-690.

BackgroundThe current literature suggests that emergency physician (EP)-performed limited compression ultrasound (LCUS) is a rapid and accurate test for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).ObjectiveOur primary objective was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of LCUS for the diagnosis of DVT when performed by a large heterogeneous group of EPs.MethodsThis was a prospective diagnostic test assessment of LCUS conducted at two urban academic emergency departments. The scanning protocol involved compression at the common femoral, superficial femoral, and popliteal veins. Patients were eligible if undergoing radiology department ultrasound of the lower extremity with moderate or high pretest probability for DVT, or low pretest probability for DVT with a positive d-dimer. The enrolling EP performed LCUS before radiology department ultrasound of the same lower extremity. Sensitivity, specificity, and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with the radiologist interpretation of the radiology department ultrasound as the criterion standard.ResultsA total of 56 EPs enrolled 296 patients for LCUS, with a median age of 50 years and 50% female. Fifty (17%) DVTs were identified by radiology department ultrasound, and another five (2%) cases were deemed indeterminate. The sensitivity and specificity of EP-performed LCUS was 86% (95% CI 73-94%) and 93% (95% CI 89-96%), respectively.ConclusionsA large heterogeneous group of EPs with limited training can perform LCUS with intermediate diagnostic accuracy. Unfortunately, LCUS performed by EPs with limited ultrasound training is not sufficiently sensitive or specific to rule out or diagnose DVT as a single testing modality.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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