Authors' objectives: This report has been produced in response to a request for information on the current status of air plethysmography as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for lower extremity venous investigations.

Authors' recommendations: The role of APG as a diagnostic tool for venous evaluation has not been evaluated in well-designed clinical trials. The methodological quality of the available evidence is limited in some respects and does not allow an adequate evaluation of its utility. The available evidence suggests that APG is still a research tool, currently undergoing evaluation in clinical practice. It has potential to permit safe, convenient and reproducible measurements of the venous reflux using VFI values to distinguish between normal legs and legs affected by venous disease and to distinguish superficial from deep venous disease. However the correlation of such assessment with the severity of the venous disease requires further elucidation. The use of OF determined by APG appears to have diagnostic value in the detection of proximal acute DVT. There is controversy on value of EF and RVF obtained with APG as reliable parameters for evaluation of venous disease. Further evidence is needed on the incremental costs of APG, its incremental benefits in terms of clinical outcomes and on its use in routine clinical practice.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 1997

URL for published report: https://www.ihe.ca/advanced-search?type=1020

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Institute of Health Economics

Contact Address: 1200, 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 3N4. Tel: +1 780 448 4881; Fax: +1 780 448 0018;

Contact Name: djuzwishin@ihe.ca

Contact Email: djuzwishin@ihe.ca

Copyright: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research