Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVT
Abstract Background Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is an uncommon disease but has to be carefully considered in patients with isolated unilateral upper limb swelling due to its potential to cause devastating complications and sequelae such as pulmonary embolism and septic thrombophlebi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-021-00391-4 |
| _version_ | 1818407664729718784 |
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| author | Gregory Tan Mingwei Ng |
| author_facet | Gregory Tan Mingwei Ng |
| author_sort | Gregory Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is an uncommon disease but has to be carefully considered in patients with isolated unilateral upper limb swelling due to its potential to cause devastating complications and sequelae such as pulmonary embolism and septic thrombophlebitis. Given the extreme rarity of this condition, it is not surprising that point-of-care ultrasonographic evaluation of the upper limb for deep venous thrombosis is hardly ever performed in the emergency department. This case report serves to highlight how point-of-care ultrasonographic evaluation of the upper extremity venous system could be incorporated as a tool in the diagnostic armamentarium of the emergency physician. Case presentation A 51-year-old Chinese gentleman presented to the emergency department with a 1-day duration of progressive right upper extremity swelling and pain. On examination, his hemodynamic parameters were stable with no tachycardia. He was noted to have a hyperaemic and grossly swollen but non-tender right upper limb. Distal pulses remained strong. Point-of-care ultrasonography of his right upper limb venous system with Doppler colour flow and single-point augmentation with the arm squeeze manoeuvre immediately confirmed the diagnosis of right upper extremity deep venous thrombosis, which in turn permitted anticoagulation to be instituted promptly whilst in the emergency department. Conclusion The use of point-of-care ultrasonography of the upper limb venous system can prove invaluable as a rapid, non-invasive technique to facilitate expedient diagnosis of and early intervention for UEDVT in the emergency department. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:31:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18ae11a261394a23b2fd0d887c11c77e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1865-1372 1865-1380 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:31:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-18ae11a261394a23b2fd0d887c11c77e2022-12-21T23:08:04ZengBMCInternational Journal of Emergency Medicine1865-13721865-13802021-11-011411410.1186/s12245-021-00391-4Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVTGregory Tan0Mingwei Ng1Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General HospitalAbstract Background Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is an uncommon disease but has to be carefully considered in patients with isolated unilateral upper limb swelling due to its potential to cause devastating complications and sequelae such as pulmonary embolism and septic thrombophlebitis. Given the extreme rarity of this condition, it is not surprising that point-of-care ultrasonographic evaluation of the upper limb for deep venous thrombosis is hardly ever performed in the emergency department. This case report serves to highlight how point-of-care ultrasonographic evaluation of the upper extremity venous system could be incorporated as a tool in the diagnostic armamentarium of the emergency physician. Case presentation A 51-year-old Chinese gentleman presented to the emergency department with a 1-day duration of progressive right upper extremity swelling and pain. On examination, his hemodynamic parameters were stable with no tachycardia. He was noted to have a hyperaemic and grossly swollen but non-tender right upper limb. Distal pulses remained strong. Point-of-care ultrasonography of his right upper limb venous system with Doppler colour flow and single-point augmentation with the arm squeeze manoeuvre immediately confirmed the diagnosis of right upper extremity deep venous thrombosis, which in turn permitted anticoagulation to be instituted promptly whilst in the emergency department. Conclusion The use of point-of-care ultrasonography of the upper limb venous system can prove invaluable as a rapid, non-invasive technique to facilitate expedient diagnosis of and early intervention for UEDVT in the emergency department.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-021-00391-4Upper extremity Deep vein thrombosisUltrasoundAugmentationColour Doppler |
| spellingShingle | Gregory Tan Mingwei Ng Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVT International Journal of Emergency Medicine Upper extremity Deep vein thrombosis Ultrasound Augmentation Colour Doppler |
| title | Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVT |
| title_full | Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVT |
| title_fullStr | Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVT |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVT |
| title_short | Emergency department point-of-care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ED POCUS for upper extremity DVT |
| title_sort | emergency department point of care ultrasound for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis ed pocus for upper extremity dvt |
| topic | Upper extremity Deep vein thrombosis Ultrasound Augmentation Colour Doppler |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-021-00391-4 |
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