Reducing the Cost of Post‐operative Deep Venous Thrombosis Available to Purchase

Concern has been expressed that the introduction of a non‐invasive test as a further step in the diagnostic pathway for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) can only increase the expense of detection in this difficult condition. Presents a study and cost analysis of strain gauge plethysmography in the diagnosis of DVT in 119 symptomatic patients. Shows that non‐invasive screening is highly cost‐effective and does not result in reduced efficacy. Examined and costed a number of diagnostic algorithms and found a single strain gauge test to be the most sensitive and cost‐effective selection procedure for venography. The cost of diagnosing a single DVT can be reduced from £691 to £266 by the use of this technique.