In plain words
Compression ultrasonography is an ultrasound of the veins in the leg. The technician presses the probe gently against the skin. A healthy vein collapses under pressure, and a vein with a clot does not. It is the usual first test when a clot is suspected in the leg, which can cause swelling, pain, warmth, or redness. Pregnancy and the weeks after birth raise the risk of clots. A normal result usually rules out a clot in the leg, but if the test is negative and the worry stays, the team may order another scan. Leg swelling is common after birth. A sudden change in one leg is worth a same-day call to your provider.
The deeper version
Compression ultrasonography of the proximal deep veins is the first-line test for suspected lower-extremity , and published guidance reports high sensitivity and specificity for proximal thrombosis in symptomatic patients. Negative results with persistent suspicion are followed by repeat testing or iliac imaging, with magnetic resonance venography or computed tomography venography used for pelvic veins. Pregnancy and the postpartum period carry elevated risk, most of it within the first six weeks after birth, and delivery and obesity raise it further (ACOG Practice Bulletin 196, 2018). Management decisions rest on imaging results and on clinical probability scores, with the diagnostic pathway described in the guideline.
Where it comes up
- Blood clots: the signs to knowPostpartum: Your Body
- Swelling after birthPostpartum: Your Body
- Swelling: feet, ankles, hands, facePregnancy: Your Body
- Varicose veins and leg crampsPregnancy: Your Body
What mothers here say about compression ultrasonography
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 196: Thromboembolism in pregnancy, 2018
- American Society of Hematology — Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism