Controlled External Thigh Compression: A Feasible Method to Simulate Venous Hemodynamic Alterations Resembling Deep Vein Thrombosis

Abstract

Purpose: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) poses significant health risks, including potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. Current clinical practice relies heavily on ultrasonography, requiring a skilled specialist. Alternative methods, such as light reflection rheography (LRR) and venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP), are non-invasive and simple; however, studies report limited consistency and standardization. The development of biosignal-based diagnostic tools is constrained by the inherent risks of DVT, including embolization, and challenges in patient recruitment. The ability to simulate DVT-like conditions would aid in developing and testing alternative screening methods. This study aims to present a simulation method of venous hemodynamic alterations resembling deep vein thrombosis using controlled external thigh compression with ultrasonic visualization. Methods: Data collection with thirty healthy volunteers was conducted in a laboratory using a commercially available system VasoScreen 5000–4000 to record LRR and VOP signals. Vein stenosis at varying levels was induced through controlled external thigh compression under ultrasonic guidance. Results: The experimental simulation showed statistically significant but small changes in LRR parameters across different stenosis levels. In comparison, VOP results showed greater differences across stenosis levels, with 70% and 100% performing the best. In these cases, 47% and 70% of the measurements, respectively, were below the normal reference limit, with a notably increased outflow time constant, compared to the baseline measurements, where it remained low despite varying venous capacity. Conclusion: Presented hemodynamic alterations demonstrated to be a feasible option for simulating DVT-like conditions via controlled external pressure on the thigh.