Deep Vein Thrombosis & Pulmonary Embolism - Presentation, Investigation & Therapy Flashcards
What is thrombosis?
The formation of a thrombus
What is the formation of a thrombus called?
Thrombosis
What is a thrombus?
Blood clot that forms in a vessel and remains there
What is a blood clot that forms in a vessel and remains there called?
Thrombus
Where can a thrombus be present?
Artery
Vein
What is a clot made up of?
Fibrin
Platelets
Red blood cells
What catalyses the reaction of fibrinogen to fibrin?
Thrombin
What catalyses the reaction of thrombin to prothrombin?
Tissue factor V
How does the mechanism of arterial thrombus differ from venous?
Arterial is usually due to rupture of atherosclerotic plaque
Venous is usually a combination of Virchow’s triad (especially stasis and hypercoagulability)
What do arterial thrombus result in?
Ischaemia and infarction
What do venous thrombus result in?
Back pressure
What diseases can arterial thrombus lead to?
Acute coronary syndrome
Ischaemic stroke
Limb claudication/ischaemia
What diseases can venous thrombus lead to?
Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary embolism
What is the composition of an arterial thrombus?
White thrombus (platelets and fibrin)
What is the combination of a venous thrombus?
Red thrombus (red blood cellsa and fibrin)
What is Virchow’s triad?
The factors that leads to thrombosis
What are some risk factors for the stasis aspect of Virchow’s triad?
Immobility
Long haul travel
What are some risk factors for the vessel damage aspect of Virchow’s triad?
Endothelial dynsfunction (hypertension, smoking)
Endothelial damage (trauma, surgery)
What are some risk factors for the hypercoagulability aspect of Virchow’s triad?
Pregnancy
Cancer
Sepsis
What is an embolism?
Intravascular material that migrates from its original location to a distal vessel
What is intravascular material that migrates from its original location to a distal vessel called?
Embolism
What are examples of different embolus?
Blood clot
Fat
Air
Tumour
What is a thromboembolism?
Movement of a blood clot along a vessel
What is movement of a blood clot along a vessel called?
Thromboembolism
What does VTE stand for?
Venous thromboembolism