DVT and PE Flashcards

1
Q

What is a thrombus?

A

A blood clot that forms in the veins

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2
Q

What is an embolus?

A

Anything that passes through the blood vessels until it reaches a vessel that is too small to let it pass

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3
Q

What is a thromboembolus?

A

obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has become dislodged from another site in the circulation

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4
Q

What is a DVT?

A

Formation of thrombi within the lumen of the vessels that make up the deep venous system

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5
Q

What is a distal vein thrombosis?

A

A DVT of the calves

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6
Q

What is a proximal vein thrombosis?

A

DVT of the popliteal vein or the femoral vein

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7
Q

What is venous thromboembolis? (VTE)

A

A collective name used to describe both a DVT and a PE

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8
Q

What is Virchow’s triad?

A

Endothelial injuryCirculatory stasisHyper-coagulable state(triad of conditions that predispose to thrombus formation)

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9
Q

What are the 4 things that cause endothelial injury?

A

Venous disordersVenous valvular damageTrauma or surgeryIndwelling catheters

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10
Q

What are the 4 things that cause circulatory status?

A

Left ventricular dysfunctionImmobility or paralysisVenous insufficiency or varicose veinsVenous obstruction from tumour, obesity or pregnancy

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11
Q

What are the 6 things that can cause a hyper coagulable state?

A

MalignancyPregnancy and peripartum periodOestrogen therapyIBDSepsisThrombophilia

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12
Q

What are 6 exposing risk factors (acute conditions or trauma, surgery) that are risk factors for VTE?

A

SurgeryTraumaAcute medical illnessAcute heart failureAcute respiratory failureCentra venous catheterisation

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13
Q

What are the 11 predisposing risk factors (Patient characteristics) that are risk factors for VTE?

A

History of VTEChronic heart failureAdvanced ageVaricose veinsObesityImmobility or paresisMyeloproliferative disordersPregnancy/ permpartum periodInherited or acquired thrombophiliaHormone therapiesRenal insufficiency

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14
Q

What are the 2 overlapping exposing and predisposing risk factors for VTE?

A

CancerInflammatory diseases

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15
Q

What is an unprovoked VTE?

A

An idiopathic VTE - there are no identifiable causes for it (compared to a provoked VTE)

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16
Q

Do provoked or unprovoked VTE have a higher recurrence rate?

A

Unprovoked

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17
Q

What is a venous blood clot mainly composed of? (2)

A

RBCsFibrin

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18
Q

What are the known consequences of a VTE?

A

Fatal PERisk of recurrent VTEPost-thrombotic syndrome (PTS)Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)Reduced quality of life

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19
Q

How common is post thrombotic syndrome?

A

Occurs in nearly one-third of patients within 5 years after idiopathic DVT (common)

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20
Q

What are the symptoms/ signs of post thrombotic syndrome?

A

PainOedemaHyperpigmentationEczemaVaricose collateral veinsVenous ulceration(thought to be associated with DVT-induced damage to valves in the deep veins and valvular reflex leading to venous hypertension)

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21
Q

What is chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension?

A

A serious (But relatively rare) complication of PEA condition where the original embolic material is replaced over time with fibrous tissue that is incorporated into the intimate and media of the pulmonary arteriesThis material may occlude the pulmonary artery leading to pulmonary resistance and ultimately right heart failure

22
Q

Symptoms of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension?

A

Initially = asymptomatic followed by progressive dyspnoea and hypoxaemia

23
Q

What are the original investigations for a patient with suspected VTE?

A

Pre-test probability calculated (using Wells score/ modified wells score for PE)D-dimerDepending on probability, imaging

24
Q

What is D-dimer?

A

A breakdown product of cross linked fibrin

25
Q

What is D-dimer used for?

A

To rule out a VTE - if you suspect a VTE, perform this and if it is negative, they require no further testing

26
Q

What scoring system is used in Tayside to assess the risk of a DVT being present pre-test?

A

Wells score

27
Q

What are the factors in the wells test that give a score?

A

+1 for all of the following:Active drug injectorActive cancerCalf swelling greater than 3cm compared to other calfCollateral superficial veins (non-varicose)Pitting oedema (confined to symptomatic lef)Swelling of entire legLocalised pain along distribution of deep venous systemParaslysis, paresis, or recent cast immobilisation of lower extremitiesRecently bed ridden for greater than 3 days or major surgery in past month-2 if alternative diagnosis at least as likely 0 or less = low probability1-2 = moderate 3 or more = high

28
Q

If the patient has a low wells score, what investigations should be carried out?

A

Check D-dimerNo imaging if negative

29
Q

If the patient has a moderate/ high wells score, what investigations should be carried out?

A

Need imaging regardless of D-dimer Negative imaging and positive D-dimer requires repeat imaging

30
Q

What is the modified wells score used for?

A

To assess the risk of PE

31
Q

What is the modified wells score for PE?

A

Clinical signs of DVT = 3 pointsPE most likely diagnosis = 3 pointsHR greater than 100 = 1.5 pointsImmobilisation at least 4 days or surgery within 4 weeks = 1.5Previous diagnosis of DVT/ PE = 1.5Haemoptysis = 1Malignancy within 6 months = 1Score of less than or equal to 4 makes PE unlikelyScore of greater than 4 makes PE likely

32
Q

What does the revised Geneva score assess?

A

The risk of having had a PE

33
Q

What is the revised geneva score?

A

Risk factors/ symptoms:age greater than 65 = 1 pointPrevious DVT/ PE = 3 pointsSurgery or leg fracture in last month = 2 pointsActive malignant condition = 2 pointsUnilateral limb pain = 3 pointsHaemoptysis = 2 pointsSigns:HR 75 - 94 = 3 pointsHR greater than or equal to 95 = 5 pointsPain on lower limb deep venous palpation AND unilateral oedema = 4 points0 - 3 points = low risk (D-dimer negative = no more investigations)4 - 10 oints = intermediate risk (if D-dimer negative consider stopping investigation but likely need to exclude)High risk = Imaging regardless of D-dimer

34
Q

What imaging should be performed if indicated for a PE?

A

If chest x-ray is normal, do a V/Q scanIf radiation should be avoided/ leg is swollen, consider doing an US to look for a DVTIf chest x-ray is abnormal or a massive PE is expected, do a CTPA

35
Q

What can a chest x-ray show in a PE?

A

Pleural effusions and occasionally infarcts

36
Q

What scan is performed to look for a PE in pregnancy?

A

V/Q scan but perfusion part only is performed, presuming ventilation is normal

37
Q

How to treat DVT and PE?

A

Pharmacological agents (anticoagulation, thrombolysis, analgesia)Mechanical interventions (graduated compression stockings, IVC filters)Screening (cancer, thrombophilia)Patient information

38
Q

What type of anticoagulation is used to treat VTE patients?

A

Low molecular weight heparin (then anticoagulate with warfarin for 3 months or with heparin if the patient has cancer until their treatment finishes (always at least 6 months)) - stop heparin once INR is greater than 2

39
Q

How long do patients with provoked/ unprovoked VTE get warfarrin for?

A

3 months (in unprovoked VTE assess the risks and benefits for continuing anticaogulation for prevention of VTE recurrence)

40
Q

How long do patients with active cancer get heparin for after a VTE?

A

6 months before being reassessed for continued treatment

41
Q

What can be considered instead of using warfarin to anticaogulate?

A

NOACs - new oral anticoagulants (don’t need INR monitored and lower bleeding rate but don’t have an antidote so can’t be reversed)

42
Q

What are 4 examples of NOACs?

A

ApixabanRivaroxabanDabigatranEdoxaban

43
Q

How long are NOACs used standardly to prevent reoccurrence of VTE?

A

6 months (compared with normally 3 for warfarin)

44
Q

When are NOACs tending to be used in comparison to warfarin?

A

When patient is a drug user or there is associated cancer

45
Q

When is heparin stopped in patients with VTE?

A

When INR is greater than 2 (keep going with heparin if the patient has cancer)

46
Q

When are patient with a DVT treated with thrombolysis?

A

If they have symptomatic ileofemoral DVT symptoms less than 14 days duration and good functional status and a life expectancy of 1 year or more with a low risk of bleeding (catheter thrombolysis)

47
Q

When are patients with a PE considered for thrombolysis?

A

Consider pharmacological systemic thrombolytic therapy in patients with PE and haemodynamic instability - large clot (if the patient is haemodynamically stable, do not give pharmacological thrombolytic therapy)

48
Q

Why are compression stockings used in patients with DVT?

A

To prevent post thrombotic sydnrome

49
Q

What type of compression stockings are used for DVT?

A

Class 2 european standard compression stockings

50
Q

When are compression stockings worn?

A

As soon as possible after diagnosis (when swelling is reduced and no contraindications) - worn during the day for at least 2 years post thrombosis

51
Q

Why have compression stockings been taken off the guidelines?

A

Due to their negative effect in arterial disease (consider them if the patient does not have this)

52
Q

Who should get an IVC filter?

A

Temporarily for patients with proximal DVT or pE who cannot have anticoagulationPatients with recurrent proximal DVT or PE despite adequate anticoagulation