Summary

We evaluated two clinical scores for the prediction of deep venousthrombosis (DVT) in hospitalized patients (Wells’ and Kahn’s). Weincluded 273 patients referred to the vascular exploration unit for thesuspicion of DVT. A clinical questionnaire was filled in by the practitionerand the scores were calculated from this form. 66 of the 273 patientshad a DVT. When Wells’ score was 3, a DVT was found byduplex echography in 51% patients ; when the score was 0, a DVT wasfound in 9%. Kahn’s score was not adapted to this population. We thendeveloped a new simple score (cancer, palsy or plaster immobilization,warmth, superficial venous dilation, unilateral pitting edema, otherdiagnosis). A DVT was found in 76% patients with a score of 3 and in11% in those with a score of 0. We therefore propose a 6-item scorewhose main advantages are simplicity and usefulness in routine practice.