The augmentation sign, also called augmentation maneuver, is a technique used during venous Doppler ultrasound to test whether a vein is open and has normal flow. The sonographer squeezes or compresses the limb distal to the probe, which pushes blood toward the heart and causes a brief surge in flow that is detected by the Doppler signal. If squeezing produces a strong augmentation of flow, it indicates that the vein between the compression point and the probe is open. A weak or absent augmentation response suggests that there may be a blood clot or obstruction in the vein segment between those two points. This technique is routinely used in lower extremity deep vein thrombosis evaluations.
Sonography Term