Venous thromboembolism (VTE); a blood clot that forms in the deep veins
Worldwide, a growing number of people suffer from venous thromboembolism. While there is a lot of research on the causes and treatment of VTE, there is also need for more comprehensive guidelines. For instance, in 2018, to help physicians/doctors make more informed decisions, the American Society of Hematology and McMaster University GRADE Center teamed up to develop the clinical practice guidelines for venous thromboembolism. New guidelines have been developed to reduce the incidence of venous thromboembolism and the associated costs. The authors recommend the use of monitoring devices to reduce the risk of recurrent episodes. These guidelines are outlined for the management of the disease.
Although a recurrent episode of VTE may be rare, there is no way to determine the risk factor for recurrence. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms occur. Doctors can estimate the risk of a patient developing VTE. Many people have questions about the best treatment for VTE. The first step in treating venous thromboembolism is to determine the underlying cause. If people suspect that they or a loved one has a disease, consult a doctor or vascular surgeon. The vascular surgeon plays a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Anticoagulants are often used for patients with VTE, but other medications can be effective to treat venous thromboembolism.
Anticoagulant therapy remains the mainstay of medical therapy for deep venous thrombosis as it is noninvasive, it treats most patients (around 90%) with no immediate demonstrable physical sequelae of DVT. Moreover, there is a low risk of complications. The anticoagulant agents are also used to prevent and treat PE. Unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparins, and oral anticoagulants are some of the commonly used anticoagulant agents to prevent and treat pulmonary embolism. Unfractionated heparin is the drug of choice for prophylaxis and short-term treatment of PE. Chronic anticoagulation is critical to prevent relapse of DVT or PE. It helps reduce the size and frequency of PE and slow/prevent the progression of DVT.
Anticoagulants, including injectables, and tablets/drugs, such as warfarin, apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran, are commonly used for the preventions and treatment of venous thromboembolism. Moreover, there is strong evidence that anti-clotting drugs and mechanical prophylaxis, such as compression devices, can prevent a majority of blood clots in the hospital. The good news is that, VTE can be cured.