Early diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in hospitalized patients

Introduction: In hospitalized patients, immobilization and prolonged rest are key risk factors for the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism. Objective: To describe the characteristics observed through venous Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs of patients hospitalized for at least 7 days and who have not shown any symptoms of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE), and thus, facilitate the early initiation of treatment. Material and method: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out. Patients were selected through convenience sampling from January to July 2023 at a private center in Buenos Aires province. A Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs was conducted on patients who had been hospitalized for at least 7 days and were asymptomatic for VTE until that time. Results: 204 patients were included; 12.8% (n = 26) were positive for DVT, with a predominance of female patients (57.7%, n = 15) and a mean age of 73.8 years (standard deviation: 13.8). It was observed that 76.9% (n = 20) of patients with a positive DVT diagnosis had been hospitalized between 7 and 15 days. Significant associations were found between DVT diagnosis and reason for hospitalization (surgical vs. non-surgical) (p = 0.03), history of active oncological disease (p = 0.0009) and obesity (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Performing a venous echo-Doppler between days 7 and 15 of admission could be beneficial for early detection of lower limb DVT, especially considering factors like the reason for admission, a history of active cancer and obesity.