RT Journal
A1 WHEELER H
T1 AMbulatory management of suspected deep vein thrombosis
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1989
FD March 1
VO 149
IS 3
SP 501
OP 502
DO 10.1001/archinte.1989.00390030007001
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1989.00390030007001
AB Technologic advances and cost-containment programs have led to many changes in current medical practice. Ambulatory care is replacing in-hospital care, and noninvasive methods are replacing invasive procedures. Such changes in medical practice not only cut costs, but may also provide better and more convenient care for the patient. This general trend toward ambulatory, noninvasive patient management is now occurring in the management of suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT).In this issue of the Archives, Huisman et al1 describe their success in the ambulatory management of suspected DVT using impedance plethysmography (IPG). Their study1 is particularly significant, since it was carried out in a representative general hospital, as opposed to an academic health center with research expertise in the technology employed. Patients were referred for evaluation by general practitioners on clinical suspicion of DVT. The authors1 found that more than half of these patients did not have deep vein thrombosis