DVT & PE Flashcards
Symptoms & signs of DVT
Red, swollen leg (particularly calf) Tenderness Pitting oedema Fever Horman's sign
What score is used to diagnose DVT
Well’s score
Differentials of a suspected DVT
Ruptured bakers cyst
Cellulitis
Lymphadenopathy
Investigations for suspected DVT
Venography (“gold standard”)
D-dimer (negative rules out but positive doesn’t diagnose)
Leg measurement
USS
What is first line treatment for DVT?
LMWHs or fondaparinux
AND
Warfarin
When to stop LMWHs?
INR is 2 or above for at least 24 hours
When treating a DVT when should UFH be used instead of LMWH?
Renal failure
Increased risk of bleeding
Who do you offer a VKA to when treating a DVT or PE?
Patients with a proximal DVT or PE
How long do the patients take warfarin for?
6 months if first DVT
3 months if first DVT & occurred post-op
Indefinitely if recurrent DVT
When is thrombolysis used?
If PE is termed “massive”
Risk factors for PE & DVT
Age Obesity Immobilisation Surgery Varicose vein Pregnancy IBD Trauma Vasculitis Certain drugs (IV drug users)
