WAVELENGTHTUNE IN · GAIN CLARITY

Wavelength Academy · Vascular

Proximal DVT: point-of-care compression ultrasound

Answer the question every emergency clinician faces: is there a clot in the proximal leg veins? Learn the anatomy, the two-region compression scan, the mimics, and where the result fits in the NICE pathway.

  • 1 hour CPD
  • 6 lessons
  • 5 cases
  • 15-question assessment
  • Pass mark 80%
  • Free

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What you will learn

  • Place point-of-care compression ultrasound within the NICE pathway for suspected DVT
  • Identify the deep veins of the groin and popliteal fossa and how they relate to the arteries
  • Perform a two-region compression scan and recognise a non-compressible vein
  • Recognise the common mimics and pitfalls, then document and act on the result safely

Lessons

  1. The clinical question and the pathway8 min
  2. The anatomy you need8 min
  3. Technique: the two-region compression scan10 min
  4. Normal and abnormal findings7 min
  5. Pitfalls and mimics8 min
  6. Documenting and acting on the result6 min
  7. Cases13 min
  8. Final assessment: 15 questions, pass mark 80%9 min

Who it is for

Emergency, acute and urgent care doctors, advanced clinical practitioners and physician associates, from first scans to supervisors.

Your certificate

Pass the assessment and we email your certificate as a PDF: your name, the module, 1 hour of CPD, the date and a code anyone can check at thewavelength.co.uk/elearning/verify. Upload it to your e-portfolio with a short reflection. Wavelength issues the certificate itself. It is not accredited by an external body, so record the hours as self-directed CPD under your own college or regulator's rules. The certificate records completed learning. Sign-off to scan independently stays with your department.

About this module

Author. Dr Firas Abou-Auda, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Course Director, Wavelength.
Published. October 2026. Next review. October 2028.
Conflicts of interest. Dr Firas Abou-Auda is Course Director of Wavelength, which runs paid ultrasound courses.

References

  1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Venous thromboembolic diseases: diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing (NG158). 2020, updated 2023.
  2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Venous thromboembolism in adults (QS201). 2021.
  3. Hercz D, et al. Ultrasound performed by emergency physicians for deep vein thrombosis: a systematic review. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2024.
  4. American College of Emergency Physicians. Ultrasound guidelines: emergency, point-of-care and clinical ultrasound guidelines in medicine. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2023.
  5. Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Point-of-care ultrasound appendix to the RCEM curriculum.

Read the free Wavelength Pearl on this topic