Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2022.61.s1.07
Venous thromboembolism in the emergency department – single-center experience
Ivan Jurić
orcid.org/0000-0001-9879-2218
; Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Sveti Duh, Zagreb, Croatia
Višnja Nesek Adam
orcid.org/0000-0002-6521-4136
; Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Sveti Duh, Zagreb, Croatia; University Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, University Hospital Sveti Duh, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, University J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
Given the importance of early recognition of acute venous thromboembolism
(VTE ) and the nonspecificity of its symptoms and signs, it is essential to follow the guidelines for
diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Ultrasound examination of the entire lower extremity is currently
the standard diagnostic method for symptomatic patients with a clinical probability of deep
vein thrombosis (DVT) according to the Wells scoring system. The aim of this study is to show the
demographic structure and analyze the number of patients in the emergency department with suspected
venous thrombosis. In the past 10 years, 2,022 patients with DVT and 686 with pulmonary
emboli have been diagnosed. Despite adherence to the diagnostic protocol, nearly two-thirds of patients
require early ultrasound diagnosis. One-fifth of patients had thrombosis of the superficial venous
system of the leg or arm. Thrombus was present in the veins of the lower leg in 37% of patients
with DVT. The presence of thrombi above the knee, involving the deep femoropopliteal venous system,
was found in as much as one-third of patients. These findings and current guidelines suggest that
there is a paradigm shift toward more frequent use of DO AC in patients with DVT. However, greater
educational efforts may be needed for many physicians to become comfortable with the use of
DO AC in the outpatient management of patient populations at low risk for pulmonary embolism.
Keywords
venous thrombosis; pulmonary embolism; venotromboembolism; emergency medicine
Hrčak ID:
281179
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2022.
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