Venous Thromboembolism Flashcards
Thrombosis
Pathological formation of a blood clot within a vessel
Embolism
Rupture of clot from vessel wall
Travels through circulation until obstructed by smaller vessel
Venous thrombi
Red clots
RBCs within a fibrin mesh
Arterial thrombi
White clots
Platelets and fibrin
Majority of DVT originate in
Calf venous sinuses
Pulmonary embolism
3rd most common cause of CV death
Virchow’s Triad- VTE cause
Reduced blood flow (stasis)
Vessel wall disorder
Hypercoagulability
VTE epidemiology
Hereditary 25%
Acquired 50%
Idiopathic 40%
Caused by antithrombin, protein C + S deficiency
Strong Risk Factors VTE
Fracture hip Major trauma Hip/knee replacement Spinal cord injury Major surgery Hospitalisation with acute medical illness
Moderate Risk Factors VTE
Previous VTE Cancer Resp. Failure Thrombophilia Pregnancy Combined pill/HRT
Weak Risk Factors VTE
Bed rest > 3 days Travel Obesity Varicose veins Day-case surgery
DVT Presentation
Unilateral
Pain, swelling, tenderness
Objective diagnosis DVT
Clinical pre-test probability- Well’s score
D-dimer
Radiological assessment
Well’s score DVT
Active cancer within last 6 months Recent immobilisation Recently bedridden Localised tenderness near deep veins Entire leg swollen Pitting oedema
D-dimer DVT
Blood test
Tests for non-specific marker of fibrin formation
Radiological assessment DVT
Usually compression ultrasound
Sometimes venography
CT scan
DVT Complications
Pulmonary embolism
Recurrent VTE
Post-thrombotic syndrome