Bilateral Lower Limb Doppler Ultrasound
- Used by some centres as the initial method of investigation if pulmonary embolism is suspected during pregnancy, as it does not use ionising radiation.
- Only around 10% of all patients with a PE will have an abnormal ultrasound. 6
- Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis are both part of a single disease process, being venous thromboembolism. The rationale of performing ultrasonography is that detection of DVT in a patient suspected of having PE is sufficient for treatment to be commenced. Further investigation to specifically detect PE is not required and ionising radiation is avoided. 7
- Advantages:
- Does not involve ionising radiation
- Non-invasive.
- Limitations:
- Low sensitivity for patients with PE.
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