DVT and pulmonary embolism

Question 1

Thrombus

Answer 1

clot arising in the wrong place

Question 2

What is the ‘clot’ made up of?

Answer 2

Fibrin

platelets

RBCs

Question 3

Arterial Vs Venous thrombosis

venous

Answer 3

Virchow triad

Question 4

arterial Vs venous

arterial

Answer 4

usually a rupture of an athersclerotic plaque

Question 5

embolism

Answer 5

intravascular material that migrates from its original location to a distal vessel

Question 6

thromboembolism

Answer 6

moving of clot along a vessel

Question 7

Examples of venous thromboembolism

Answer 7

limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Pulmonary embolism (PE)

Question 8

Risk factors for Venous thromboembolism

Answer 8

surgery

late pregnancy

lower limb problems (varicose veins, fractures)

Question 9

Signs and symptoms of DVT

Answer 9

unilateral limb swelling

discomfort

calf tenderness

Question 10

A potential long term consequence of DVT is

Answer 10

post thrombotic syndrome

damage to venous valves

Question 11

Diagnosing DVT

Answer 11

clinical assessment (wells score)

blood test (d-dimer)

imaging (compression ultrasound)

Question 12

D-dimer

Answer 12

breakdown product of cross-linked fibrin

Question 13

Symptoms and signs of PE

Answer 13

pleuritic chest pain

SOB

haemoptysis

tachycardia

pleural rub auscultation

Question 14

Signs and symptoms of a MASSIVE PE

Answer 14

severe dyspnoea

collapse

cyanosis (lips and tongue)

low BP

Raised JVP

Question 15

Diagnosing PE

Answer 15

Clinical assessment and probability score (wells)

D dimer

imaging if d dimer is positive

Question 16

PE treatment options

Answer 16

low molecular weight heparin

warfarin

direct oral anticoagulants

thrombolysis for a massive PE