Technical tip: duplex surveillance for deep vein thrombosis post endoluminal venous procedures

Abstract

Duplex ultrasound imaging of the venous system has become the procedure of choice to evaluate the technical success post endoluminal ablative procedures and in the diagnosis of proximal leg DVT, which may occur as a rare complication. The purpose of this technical tip is to highlight the information that could be gathered by stepwise assessment of the deep venous system including the junctions with simple B-mode and Doppler colour flow imaging for the presence of an acute thrombus. This technique in turn may obviate the need for distal augmentation manoeuvres that is often used to demonstrate filling within the venous lumen and hence preclude potential iatrogenic thrombo-embolism.