VTE/PE Flashcards
Why is VTE and PE so important?
VTE is a major cause of morbidity & mortality
-more deaths than breast cancer, HIV, and vehicle accidents combined
-50% attributed to hospitalization
10% of hospital deaths due to PE
average cost per VTE=$10k-$30k
affects approximately 100,000 Canadians/yr
True or false: VTE treatment and prophylaxis is the same as atrial fibrillation or secondary prevention of MI/stroke
false
not the same
Provide some characteristics of veins.
returns blood to the heart for re-oxygenation
thinner walled than arteries
elastic (variably widens as blood passes through)
lower shear rate than arteries
one-way valves close to prevent backflow (damage=pooling)
Differentiate between a venous thrombus and an arterial thrombus.
venous thrombus
-formed without damaging vessel wall
-held together mostly by fibrin, less platelet
-leads to VTE (DVT/PE)
arterial thrombus
-formed from rupture of atherosclerotic plaque
-held together by mostly platelets, less fibrin
-leads to ACS, stroke, or PAD
What is a venous thromboembolism?
results from clot formation within venous circulation
mainly develops in lower extremities
-majority in calf veins
-minority in arms, brain, GI tract, liver
After a venous thrombus is formed, what are some possibilities that could occur next?
lyse
obstruct venous circulation
embolize
combination of the above
Briefly describe the physiology of coagulation.
central to the coagulation is the generation of thrombin
-factor IIa
thrombin is made from prothrombin by factor Xa
prothrombin–>thrombin–>fibrinogen–>fibrin clot
What is Virchows triad?
risk factors for VTE
-stasis
-vessel wall injury
-hypercoagulability
Describe circulatory stasis as a risk factor for VTE.
bed rest/immobility (prolonged)
heart failure (class III-IV)
varicose veins (controversial)
atrial fibrillation
Describe vascular damage as a risk factor for VTE.
previous VTE
bacterial infection (sepsis)
prosthetic implants
peripheral vascular disease
trauma
surgery (mainly hips and knees)
Describe hypercoagulability as a risk factor for VTE.
medications
use of oral contraceptives
malignancy
inherited thrombophilias (factor V leiden gene)
advanced age >60 (esp >75)
obesity (esp >50)
protein C or S deficiency
smoking
Describe pregnancy as a risk factor for VTE.
5-10x increase during pregnancy
15-35x increase during early postpartum (6-12wks)
What are some medications that increase the risk for VTE?
estrogen
-CHC has RR of 2 but ARI is 0.04% and NNH is 2500
SERMS (tamoxifen/raloxifen)
chemotherapy
older antipsychotics
erythropoeitin
What is the clinical presentation of VTE?
often asymptomatic
symptoms are often non-specific
-diagnosis is difficult
-requires assessment of risk factors and lab/imaging
What are the symptoms of DVT?
leg pain (90%)
tenderness
ankle edema
calf swelling
dilated veins
dusky discolouration
What are the symptoms of PE?
sudden, unexplained SoB
tachypnea
tachycardia
unexplained chest pain/discomfort
cough
hemoptysis
fever
cyanosis
syncope
sense of impending doom
What are the complications of VTE?
recurrence rates are high
post-thrombotic syndrome
venous ulcers
chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)
Describe PTS as a complication of VTE.
sx: chronic pain, edema, fatigue, and leg ulcers
20-50% of DVT sufferers will develop within 3-6mo
possible treatment: compression stockings
-ankle to knee
-30 to 40mmHg at ankle at onset of DVT
-may decrease incidence of PTS
Describe venous skin ulcers as a complication of VTE.
results from venous insufficiency, leading to pooling of blood
major cause of chronic wounds
lack of proper blood flow
Describe CTEPH as a complication of VTE.
can occur after a PE
causes scarring in lungs
-narrows the arteries and leads to a permanent increase in pulmonary blood pressure, may lead to right-side HF
requires anti-coagulation for life
What are the ways that VTE is diagnosed?
lab tests
-D dimer increase
-ESR and WBC count increase
clinical prediction score
-Wells criteria
imaging
-compression, ultrasonography
-CT scan
-ventilation/perfusion scan
What are the goals of therapy for VTE?
prevent initial VTE
resolution of signs and symptoms
prevention of extension of VTE (prevention of PE in pts with DVT)
prevention of hemodynamic collapse and/or death
prevention of recurrence of VTE in select patients
prevent the development of CTEPH or PTS
reduce the risk of adverse effects from pharm treatment
What is PT?
prothrombin time
-measures the extrinsic and common pathway for coagulation (factor 10, 5, 7, 2)
-tests heparin
What is aPTT?
activated partial thromboplastin time
-measures the intrinsic and common pathways of coagulation
-longer time means less clotting
-tests heparin, not for LMWH