Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Bedridden Non‐surgical Patients

Abstract
In order to detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 101 patients with acute medical or infectious disorders were examined with the 125I‐fibrinogen uptake test. All patients were bedridden on admission and were scanned daily from the second to the eighth day. Thirteen patients developed a positive fibrinogen uptake test. Thus, if a positive test is interpreted as DVT, the incidence of DVT was 13% in our bedridden patients. Of the patients admitted because of heart disease or pneumonia 20% had DVT, but only 4% of those admitted with other diagnoses. Other clinical “risk factors” studied, could not identify patients who developed DVT.