THE DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF COLOR 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 wi th subclavian venous catheters were studied, The sensitivity and speci ficity of colour Doppler US was determined for the diagnosis of centra l venous thrombosis and compared with contrast venography, Criteria co nsidered to show the presence of catheter-related thrombosis included visualization of thrombus (T), absence of spontaneous flow (S), absenc e of phasicity of flow with respiration (P), incompressibility of the vein with probe pressure (C) and visualization of increased venous col laterals (V). Results: Analysing each variable separately, P had the h ighest 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 cent ral venous catheter-related thrombosis, especially if several paramete rs are evaluated in combination.