Abstract
The main short-term complication of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) is pulmonary embolism while the long-term complication is post-thrombotic syndrome. Multiple evidence-based reviews of the diagnosis and treatment of DVT and practice guidelines have been published. This chapter reviews several aspects of DVT treatment. Some of the questions address the broader topics of both DVT and pulmonary embolism, that is, venous thromboembolism. Mechanical prophylaxis is only recommended for patients who are at low risk for DVT or for those in whom pharmacologic prophylaxis is contraindicated. There are several ongoing areas of research in DVT prophylaxis, and recommendations are often changing. The US probe is used to compress the lumen of a vein, and the presence of a thrombus prevents compression and is diagnostic for a DVT. The sensitivity of US is also lower in patients with asymptomatic DVT, largely due to a higher distribution of DVT in the calf veins in the asymptomatic patients.