Management of Deep Vein Thrombosis

In the US, approximately 200,000 people are diagnosed with a new or recurrent pulmonary embolism each year. More than twice this many are diagnosed with a DVT without PE, and 1 in 300 ER patients are diagnosed with a DVT. The lifetime risk of a DVT is 2-5%, and the incidence of DVT increases with age. DVTs can lead to a pulmonary embolism, which is one of the leading causes of sudden, nontraumatic death in the US. 

Most DVTs are unprovoked, with an increased risk for reoccurrence, requiring a longer treatment period than those with provoked DVTs from drugs, trauma, or surgery.

Typically, DVTs begin at the valves of the veins. Proximal DVT include Femoropopliteal (FP) ilieofemoral (IF) DVTs, and account for 80% of symptomatic DVTs. Distal DVTs of the calf account for only 20% of symptomatic DVTs. 

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