Can air plethysmography accurately identify upper extremity deep venous thrombosis? Glenn P. Gardner, MD, Paul R. Cordts, MD, David L. Gillespie, MD, Wayne LaMorte, MD, PhD, Jonathan Woodson, MD, James O. Menzoian, MD Journal of Vascular Surgery Volume 18, Issue 5, Pages 808-813 (November 1993) DOI: 10.1016/0741-5214(93)90335-J Copyright © 1993 Society for Vascular Surgery and International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter Terms and Conditions
Fig. 1 Schematic drawing of arm position for air plethysmographic determination of venous outflow obstruction. Patient sits with arm held in position by hand sling. Journal of Vascular Surgery 1993 18, 808-813DOI: (10.1016/0741-5214(93)90335-J) Copyright © 1993 Society for Vascular Surgery and International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter Terms and Conditions
Fig. 2 Schematic drawing of normal air plethysmogram. With inflation of proximal venoocclusive cuff, recorded volume increased and eventually plateaued. With release of cuff blood flowed from arm. VV and VI are measured from tracing, and MVO is calculated from VI/VV × 100. Journal of Vascular Surgery 1993 18, 808-813DOI: (10.1016/0741-5214(93)90335-J) Copyright © 1993 Society for Vascular Surgery and International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter Terms and Conditions
Fig. 3 Frequency distribution of MVO values for four study groups: (1) “obstructed arms” (closed triangles), affected arms of patients with upper extremity DVT; (2) “other arms” (open triangles), unaffected arms of patients; (3) “hospital controls” (open circles), arms of patients admitted for elective surgery with no previous central lines or arm swelling; (4) “normal volunteers” (solid line), arms of volunteers with no previous central lines or arm swelling. MVO of 45% was 2 SD below mean of normal volunteers. Journal of Vascular Surgery 1993 18, 808-813DOI: (10.1016/0741-5214(93)90335-J) Copyright © 1993 Society for Vascular Surgery and International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter Terms and Conditions