Abstract
I read with interest the recent paper entitled Venous thromboembolism: the role of the clinician (N Curry, D Keeling. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2009; 39:243-6). It does not highlight the role of the venometer in the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism.
Clinical diagnosis for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is notoriously unreliable because the external symptoms of a DVT are so equivocal. The venometer is a simple bedside non-invasive test that uses automated strain-gauge plethysmography to detect DVT1,2. Although there have been no randomised controlled trials to support the role of venometers, they play a major role in the safe screening of patients and are used successfully in the DVT protocols of many UK hospitals, providing an efficient and a cost-effective way to manage DVT.
The definitive characteristic of a DVT is that it blocks normal blood flow. This feature is exploited by the venometer. It determines the likelihood of a thrombosis by objectively measuring the rate at which blood drains under gravity from the patient’s calf. The venometer automatically calculates the likelihood of a DVT based on the measurement taken by the sensor on the calf, while a blood pressure cuff is inflated on the thigh during this brief test. The results, either positive or negative, can help in the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism.
A portable device operated by a trained nurse or technician, the venometer is suitable for use in medical admissions units, community health centres or patients’ homes. The test is quick and simple, taking up to l5 minutes for the complete interpretation. The venometer software is extremely user-friendly and guides the operator precisely through every step in the test sequence.
Venometers decrease the risk and cost of unnecessary anticoagulation and reduce waiting times and the number of ultrasound tests, thus providing 24-hour DVT care in the NHS.
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