The diagnostic value of colour Doppler ultrasound in central venous catheter related thrombosis.

AIM

This prospective study was performed to establish the correlation between colour Doppler ultrasound (US) observations and venography in detecting catheter-related thrombosis.

METHOD

Forty-four patients with subclavian venous catheters were studied. The sensitivity and specificity of colour Doppler US was determined for the diagnosis of central venous thrombosis and compared with contrast venography. Criteria considered to show the presence of catheter-related thrombosis included visualization of thrombus (T), absence of spontaneous flow (S), absence of phasicity of flow with respiration (P), incompressibility of the vein with probe pressure (C) and visualization of increased venous collaterals (V).

RESULTS

Analysing each variable separately, P had the highest sensitivity (94%) and S had the highest specificity (100%). The best combinations for diagnosis were T+P, P+S, and T+P+S with a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 88%. Overall diagnostic value of colour Doppler US had a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 96%.

CONCLUSION

Colour Doppler US is a reliable method for detecting central venous catheter-related thrombosis, especially if several parameters are evaluated in combination.