Superficial Vein Thrombosis Testing in the Emergency Department

NCT07671300 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CTO5894
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 400
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) occurs when blood in a vein directly under the skin clots. SVT causes vein tenderness, pain, and skin discolouration. Over time, the vein hardens into a firm, nontender, easily palpable lump. SVT commonly occurs in the veins of the leg. Each year, 1 per 1000 people over the age of 18 have SVT. SVT is painful but usually gets better within a month. Four in 100 people with SVT develop progressively worse blood clotting involving the deep veins or lungs. If a deep vein clot in the leg occurs it can cause permanent disability with post-thrombotic syndrome (long-term leg pain and swelling) and reduced quality of life. If a pulmonary embolism occurs it may cause chest pain, breathlessness, pulmonary hypertension, psychological distress, and potentially death. Guidelines tell doctors to use ultrasound scanning to decide whether SVT needs treatment with a blood thinner or not. Blood thinners prevent the clot from worsening. Many people who have SVT go to the emergency department. Scanning is limited to the daytime so often people have multiple trips to the emergency department for their scan and they spend many hours waiting for a doctor to see them. Our research group developed simple ways to limit the need for scans for other types of blood clots, like blood clots in the lungs or in the deep veins. We use a simple blood test called D-dimer. We believe we may be able to use D-dimer to help limit the need for SVT scanning. This is an exploratory study to document what happens to patients tested for SVT in the emergency department, and to see if the D-dimer blood test might be useful in reducing scans. Our research group will review the emergency department charts for patients who came to the emergency department with SVT. Our results will tell us whether further studies would be helpful.

Conditions

Superficial Vein Thrombosis; D-dimer

Keywords

D-dimer; Superficial vein thrombosis; Emergency Medicine; diagnostic

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Superficial vein thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis and no thrombosis

  SVT will be classified as a) situated within 3 cm of the deep vein junction, b) ≥ 5 cm in length and \> 3 cm from the deep vein junction, and c) SVT \< 5 cm in length and \> 3 cm from the deep vein junction. Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and the finding of no thrombosis will be reported.

  During index testing

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• The secondary outcomes will the subsequent development of recurrent SVT, SVT propagation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or death from pulmonary embolism among patients diagnosed with SVT at the index visit.

  90 days

Study Arms (1)

Emergency department patients tested for superficial vein thrombosis

Diagnostic Test: D-dimer

Interventions

D-dimer DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

D-dimer blood test levels will be extracted from medical records. This is an non-interventional study.

Emergency department patients tested for superficial vein thrombosis

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Emergency department patient who is tested for superficial vein thrombosis

You may qualify if:

• Aged ≥ 18
• Tested for superficial vein thrombosis in the emergency department or urgent care centre
• Patients tested for SVT at all sites, including arms, legs and torso

You may not qualify if:

• Patient opted out of research at the participating site
• Patient included in the study in the last 90 days

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dr. Kerstin de Wit: lead

Study Sites (1)

Emergency Medicine

Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Kerstin de Wit, MD

  Kingston Health Sciences Centre

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Natasha S Clayton

CONTACT

416-566-3590; natasha.clayton@queensu.ca

de Wit, MD

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2026
• First Posted: June 26, 2026
• Study Start: July 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2029
• Last Updated: July 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)