Improving Outcomes for Patients with Venous Thromboembolism
Podcasts
Optimizing the Diagnosis and Treatment of VTE
Experts Scott C. Woller, MD and Lisa Baumann Kreuziger, MD, MS address the need for clinicians to be proactive in their identification, diagnosis, and management of VTE patients so they can recognize, treat, follow-up and or refer VTE patients as appropriate.
Safe and Effective Use Anticoagulation for the Management of VTE
In this episode Tara Lech, PharmD and Behnood Bikdeli, MS, MD identify and apply current best evidence, including from contemporary clinical studies and practice guidelines on how to use anticoagulants safely and effectively when managing patients with VTE. CE and ABIM credits available.
HeartBEATS from Lifelong Learning™
Evaluating the Patient with VTE
In this episode watch a panel of experts discuss identifying appropriate risk assessment strategies to accurately determine the level of VTE risk for patients.
What is VTE: Why does it Matter?
Watch a discussion among experts on the epidemiology of venous thromboembolism (VTE), including identifying patients at risk and discussing methods for the accurate diagnosis of DVT/PE as well as exiting VTE treatment options, algorithms, and corresponding safety and efficiency profiles. CE and ABIM MOC Credits available.
Guidelines and Articles
- Venous Thromboembolism Research Priorities: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis | Circulation (ahajournals.org)
- Call to Action to Prevent Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association | Circulation (ahajournals.org
- 2021 ACC/AHA/SVM/ACP Advanced Training Statement on Vascular Medicine (Revision of the 2004 ACC/ACP/SCAI/SVMB/SVS Clinical Competence Statement on Vascular Medicine and Catheter-Based Peripheral Vascular Interventions) | Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions (ahajournals.org)
Prevalence and Lack of Awareness
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) refers to a blood clot that starts in a vein. It is the third leading vascular diagnosis after heart attack and stroke. There are two types: 1) Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg; 2.) Pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal, occurs when a DVT clot breaks free from a vein wall, travels to the lungs and then blocks some or all of the blood supply. About two-thirds of patients with VTE present with DVT only. The remaining present with PE as the first manifestation and primary cause of VTE-related mortality. Patient awareness of the risk of VTE associated with hospitalization is low.
- In a large global survey conducted in 2014, the proportions of respondents who were aware of thrombosis, DVT, and PE (68%, 44%, and 54%, respectively) were lower than the proportions who were aware of other thrombotic disorders such as heart attack and stroke (88% and 85%, respectively).
- Fewer than half of respondents were aware that blood clots were preventable, and awareness that conditions such as cancer, hospitalization, and surgery were associated with risk was quite low (16%, 25%, and 36%, respectively).
This lack of awareness is not the result of a lack of interest on the part of patients or their families. A survey of patients and families found that participants wanted to learn about VTE symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and complications, preferring to receive education in the context of a doctor-patient encounter.