Treatment of venous thromboembolism
- PMID: 11728295
Treatment of venous thromboembolism
Abstract
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease entity composed of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Anticoagulation, initiated as soon as the diagnosis is suspected, is the treatment of choice. Traditionally, anticoagulation is started with intravenous heparin, and changed to warfarin for long-term treatment. The introduction of unmonitored, subcutaneously administered, low molecular weight heparin has resulted in shorter hospitalizations, reduced the incidence of major bleeding as a complication, and shifted the treatment of VTE for selected patients to the outpatient setting. Thrombolytic therapy has been recommended for patients with life-threatening PE. Technologic advances in catheter embolectomy and fragmentation permit clot resolution in patients in whom thrombolytic therapy is contraindicated. Inferior cava filters can be placed percutaneously in patients at high risk for VTE or those in whom anticoagulation is contraindicated. Because VTE is often clinically silent, prevention of VTE is therefore the most effective means to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. Strategies to prevent VTE have been studied and validated for specific clinical circumstances.
Similar articles
-
Treatment of venous thromboembolism.Cardiol Rev. 2002 Jul-Aug;10(4):249-59. doi: 10.1097/00045415-200207000-00010. Cardiol Rev. 2002. PMID: 12144736 Review.
-
The use of antithrombotic drugs in older people.Minerva Med. 2002 Feb;93(1):13-26. Minerva Med. 2002. PMID: 11850611 Review.
-
Oral anticoagulant therapy in venous thromboembolism.Semin Vasc Med. 2003 Aug;3(3):303-14. doi: 10.1055/s-2003-44640. Semin Vasc Med. 2003. PMID: 15199464 Review.
-
Update in the treatment of venous thromboembolism.Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Feb;29(1):40-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1047561. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2008. PMID: 18302085 Review.
-
Initial treatment of venous thromboembolism.Circulation. 2004 Aug 31;110(9 Suppl 1):I3-9. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000140904.52752.0c. Circulation. 2004. PMID: 15339875 Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Medical