Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of DVT following caesarean section, to identify the significance of various risk factors for DVT and to assess correlation of clinical features in relation to objective tests for DVT. DESIGN: A Prospective Cohort Study. SETTING: Professorial Obstetric unit, De Soysa Hospital for Women (DSHW), Colombo. METHODS: Six hundred & eleven women who underwent caesarean section during a period of nine months (1st of March 2003 to 31st of November 2003) in the above unit. Data was collected by an Interviewer-based pre-tested questionnaire, from case notes, physical examination and by doing non invasive colour Duplex ultrasonography and real time ultrasound scan. The principal investigator was trained to do real time ultrasound scan and colour Duplex at the Department of Surgery in Colombo. The principal investigator collected the data from all the subjects. The caesarean section register was maintained. Every fist two out of each set of three were recruited. Every third one was excluded. Thereafter the above mentioned information, physical exatnination and non invasive investigations (real time ultrasound scan and colour Duplex Scan) were done on 4th post operative day. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of DVT, odds ratios for variables associated with DVT and the sensitivity and specificity of clinical features of DVT. RESULTS: Five hundred and four out of six hundred eleven women responded to this Study. The response-rate was 83.3 percent. Based on clinical diagnosis
