Prevention and treatment of thromboembolic events in medical patients and new anticoagulants

Abstract

VTE presents a significant clinical and economic burden on healthcare. Previous strategies (chemical and mechanical) were not full-proof when used in isolation. The advent of more recent treatments such as factor Xa inhibitors and direct thrombin inhibitors may help to provide more conclusive preventative management of patients are risk of VTE. However, it is important to remember that treatments should be tailored to the individual patient, and the management of VTE will remain a multi-disciplinary specialty, requiring input from general physicians, haematologists, radiologists and pathologists.