The role of emergency venography in the diagnosis and management of deep venous thrombosis.

A retrospective study of patients who had undergone venography for suspected deep venous thrombosis during a six month period was undertaken to assess the influence of the examination on the subsequent management. Of these patients 38.6% had evidence of thrombus confirmed by the examination. This figure is comparable with other published results and did not bear out the impression that too many negative venograms were being obtained. Objective diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis is essential to ensure safe and cost-effective management. Other techniques have been advocated for the diagnosis of this condition but all have significant disadvantages compared with venography.