Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common pathology with significant morbidity and mortality, often occurring in the lower limb. Ultrasound is the modality of choice for diagnosis of DVT, but all guidance in the United Kingdom assumes a single leg referral. Few studies have addressed the question of bilateral referrals and bilateral DVTs, and it is not known how these should be included in ultrasound protocols. This study aims to compare the request and report parameters of bilateral examinations with those for single leg examinations over a six-month period.
METHODS: A single-centre feasibility study collected data on all single and bilateral leg examinations performed by sonographers, over a six-month period at a small general hospital. Data collected for each examination included the referral and report findings. These were compared using basic statistical methods to compare DVT yield by laterality, referrer, DVT site, and patient factors.
RESULTS: Six hundred and thirty examinations were included, eighteen of which were bilateral examinations. Although the bilateral leg cohort was small, there were significant differences in DVT yield between the groups, with single leg referrals more than eight times more likely to demonstrate a DVT at ultrasound.
CONCLUSIONS: In a context of limited ultrasound resource, the low DVT yield of bilateral examinations has implications for service design. Further data collection will be needed to validate initial results, and to establish suitable criteria for acceptance of bilateral DVT referrals.
CONCLUSIONS: Low yield of DVTs in bilateral examinations can be validated via further research. Bilateral examinations can be explicitly included in DVT service design.
METHODS: A single-centre feasibility study collected data on all single and bilateral leg examinations performed by sonographers, over a six-month period at a small general hospital. Data collected for each examination included the referral and report findings. These were compared using basic statistical methods to compare DVT yield by laterality, referrer, DVT site, and patient factors.
RESULTS: Six hundred and thirty examinations were included, eighteen of which were bilateral examinations. Although the bilateral leg cohort was small, there were significant differences in DVT yield between the groups, with single leg referrals more than eight times more likely to demonstrate a DVT at ultrasound.
CONCLUSIONS: In a context of limited ultrasound resource, the low DVT yield of bilateral examinations has implications for service design. Further data collection will be needed to validate initial results, and to establish suitable criteria for acceptance of bilateral DVT referrals.
CONCLUSIONS: Low yield of DVTs in bilateral examinations can be validated via further research. Bilateral examinations can be explicitly included in DVT service design.
摘要：
背景：深静脉血栓形成（DVT）是一种常见的病理，具有显著的发病率和死亡率，经常发生在下肢。超声是诊断DVT的首选方式，但英国的所有指南都假定为单腿转诊。很少有研究涉及双边转介和双边DVT的问题,并且不知道这些应该如何包括在超声协议中。这项研究旨在比较六个月内双边检查与单腿检查的要求和报告参数。
方法：单中心可行性研究收集了超声检查人员进行的所有单腿和双侧腿检查的数据，在一家小型综合医院呆了六个月。每次检查收集的数据包括转诊和报告结果。使用基本统计方法对这些进行比较，以通过侧向性比较DVT产量，引荐者,DVT站点,和患者因素。
结果：包括六百三十次检查，其中18项是双边考试。尽管双侧腿队列很小，组间DVT产量有显著差异，单腿转诊在超声检查中显示DVT的可能性要高出八倍以上。
结论：在超声资源有限的情况下，双边检查的低DVT产量对服务设计有影响。需要进一步收集数据以验证初步结果，并为接受双侧DVT转诊建立合适的标准。
结论：双侧检查中DVT的低产量可以通过进一步的研究来验证。双边检查可以明确包含在DVT服务设计中。
方法：单中心可行性研究收集了超声检查人员进行的所有单腿和双侧腿检查的数据，在一家小型综合医院呆了六个月。每次检查收集的数据包括转诊和报告结果。使用基本统计方法对这些进行比较，以通过侧向性比较DVT产量，引荐者,DVT站点,和患者因素。
结果：包括六百三十次检查，其中18项是双边考试。尽管双侧腿队列很小，组间DVT产量有显著差异，单腿转诊在超声检查中显示DVT的可能性要高出八倍以上。
结论：在超声资源有限的情况下，双边检查的低DVT产量对服务设计有影响。需要进一步收集数据以验证初步结果，并为接受双侧DVT转诊建立合适的标准。
结论：双侧检查中DVT的低产量可以通过进一步的研究来验证。双边检查可以明确包含在DVT服务设计中。
