Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism

Clinically, it is difficult to predict deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but the in vitro saline dilution test using the Thromboelastograph (TEG) is reported to identify the risk for individual patients [1]. The Biobridge Impedance Clotting Time (ICT) is more sensitive and reproducible than the TEG [2], and we therefore studied 33 patients undergoing elective laparotomy to see if pre-operative saline dilution tests using both the TEG and ICT predicted post-operative DVTs. Post-operatively, both legs were scanned daily for 7 days using 125r Fibrinogen to detect DVTs. The mean age of the patients was 65.7±2.4 years and 17 had malignant disease. In this clinically high risk group, 24 developed a DVT. TEG TEG ICT ICT High Risk Low Risk High Risk Low Risk DVT 9 15 20 4 No DVT 1 8 3 6 Correct Prediction 90% 39% 87% 60%