DVT and PE Flashcards
What is a thrombus?
A blood clot that forms in the veins
What is an embolus?
Anything that passes through the blood vessels until it reaches a vessel that is too small to let it pass
What is a thromboembolus?
obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has become dislodged from another site in the circulation
What is a DVT?
Formation of thrombi within the lumen of the vessels that make up the deep venous system
What is a distal vein thrombosis?
A DVT of the calves
What is a proximal vein thrombosis?
DVT of the popliteal vein or the femoral vein
What is venous thromboembolis? (VTE)
A collective name used to describe both a DVT and a PE
What is Virchow’s triad?
Endothelial injuryCirculatory stasisHyper-coagulable state(triad of conditions that predispose to thrombus formation)
What are the 4 things that cause endothelial injury?
Venous disordersVenous valvular damageTrauma or surgeryIndwelling catheters
What are the 4 things that cause circulatory status?
Left ventricular dysfunctionImmobility or paralysisVenous insufficiency or varicose veinsVenous obstruction from tumour, obesity or pregnancy
What are the 6 things that can cause a hyper coagulable state?
MalignancyPregnancy and peripartum periodOestrogen therapyIBDSepsisThrombophilia
What are 6 exposing risk factors (acute conditions or trauma, surgery) that are risk factors for VTE?
SurgeryTraumaAcute medical illnessAcute heart failureAcute respiratory failureCentra venous catheterisation
What are the 11 predisposing risk factors (Patient characteristics) that are risk factors for VTE?
History of VTEChronic heart failureAdvanced ageVaricose veinsObesityImmobility or paresisMyeloproliferative disordersPregnancy/ permpartum periodInherited or acquired thrombophiliaHormone therapiesRenal insufficiency
What are the 2 overlapping exposing and predisposing risk factors for VTE?
CancerInflammatory diseases
What is an unprovoked VTE?
An idiopathic VTE - there are no identifiable causes for it (compared to a provoked VTE)
Do provoked or unprovoked VTE have a higher recurrence rate?
Unprovoked
What is a venous blood clot mainly composed of? (2)
RBCsFibrin
What are the known consequences of a VTE?
Fatal PERisk of recurrent VTEPost-thrombotic syndrome (PTS)Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)Reduced quality of life
How common is post thrombotic syndrome?
Occurs in nearly one-third of patients within 5 years after idiopathic DVT (common)
What are the symptoms/ signs of post thrombotic syndrome?
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)