Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition in which a blood clot (a thrombus) forms in a vein and then dislodges to travel in the blood (an embolus). A venous thrombus most commonly occurs in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis; this is then called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Blood flow through the affected vein can be limited by the clot, and it can cause swelling and pain in the leg. If it dislodges and travels to the lungs, to the pulmonary arteries, it is called a pulmonary embolism (PE), which in some cases may be fatal. VTE as a term includes both DVT and PE. Major risk factors for VTE include a prior history of DVT, age over 60 years, surgery, obesity, prolonged travel, acute medical illness, cancer, immobility, thrombophilia (an abnormal tendency for the blood to clot) and pregnancy. The diagnosis of VTE is not always straightforward as other conditions may have similar symptoms, thus highlighting the need for guidance on the diagnostic pathways used for the assessment of possible DVT and PE. Failure to diagnose a case of VTE correctly may result in a patient not receiving the correct treatment and potentially suffering a fatal PE as a result. This guideline includes advice on the Wells score, D-dimer measurement, ultrasound and radiological imaging. We have looked at the diagnostic pathways for PE and DVT separately but this guideline did not consider PE risk stratification or the outpatient management of PE as these were beyond our scope. We have focussed on proximal DVT rather than isolated calf vein DVT as the latter is less likely to cause PTS than proximal DVT and also less likely to embolise to the lungs. The current standard practice for the treatment of VTE is anticoagulation. These drugs “thin” the blood and prevent further clotting. There is a wide variation in practice, but patients are usually given a brief course of heparin treatment initially while they start on a 3–6 month course of warfarin. Patients who have had recurrent VTE or who are at high risk of recurrence may be given indefinite treatment with anticoagulants to prevent further VTE episodes. However, anticoagulation treatment is not without risk, for example, the risk of bleeding, and requires the patient to have regular monitoring blood tests. There is a need for guidance about which patients should have such prolonged treatment and how the monitoring should be performed. In addition, there is a wide variation in practice regarding when to test for thrombophilia after VTE and controversy as to how thrombophilia should be managed if it is found on testing. There is also the potential to dissolve the clots using drugs termed thrombolytics which can be achieved both for DVT and PE. Dissolving the clots in the pulmonary arteries may reduce the risk of fatal PE and longer term problems with CTEPH. In the case of DVT, thrombolysis may reduce the risk of fatal PE and PTS. However, the use of thrombolytics may cause side-effects such as bleeding and guidance is needed as to which patients may benefit from their use. This guideline considers the aforementioned in adults (18 years and older) with a suspected or confirmed DVT or PE in primary, secondary and tertiary health-care settings. Within this guideline the following will be considered as special risk groups; people with cancer, people who misuse intravenous drugs, residents of nursing homes, people with physical disabilities who have restricted movement following a VTE and those with learning disabilities who require long-term medication to be taken at home. In particular, people with cancer are at higher risk of developing VTE and may need special advice on how it should be managed, as they may not respond as well when treated with warfarin. Children, people younger than 18 years and pregnant women will not be considered. Prophylaxis against VTE is not addressed as it is already the subject of a NICE clinical guideline (CG92).
CONTEXTE: Cet article porte sur le traitement de la maladie de TEV.
MÉTHODES: Nous avons généré une forte (Grade 1) et la faiblesse des recommandations (Grade 2) Sur la base (Grade A), (Grade B), et les preuves de haute qualité de qualité moyenne à faible qualité (grade C).
RÉSULTATS: Pour thrombose veineuse profonde aiguë ou d'embolie pulmonaire (EP), nous recommandons un traitement initial de l'anticoagulant par voie parentérale (Grade 1B) ou anticoagulation par rivaroxaban. Nous suggérons héparine de bas poids moléculaire (HBPM) ou le fondaparinux sur IV héparine non fractionnée (Grade 2C) ou sous-cutanée d'héparine non fractionnée (Grade 2B). Nous suggérons un traitement thrombolytique pour PE avec hypotension (Grade 2C). Pour TVP proximale ou une EP, nous recommandons un traitement de 3 mois sur des périodes plus courtes (Grade 1B). Pour une première thrombose veineuse profonde proximale ou EP qui est provoquée par une chirurgie ou par un facteur de risque transitoire non chirurgicale, nous recommandons 3 mois de traitement (1b année; Grade 2B si provoquée par un facteur de risque non chirurgicale et le risque faible ou modéré saignements), qui est sans provocation , nous vous proposons un traitement prolongé si le risque de saignement est faible ou modérée (Grade 2B) et nous recommandons 3 mois de traitement si le risque de saignement est élevé (Grade 1B), et qui est associée à un cancer actif, nous recommandons un traitement prolongé (Grade 1B, 2B grade en cas de risque élevé de saignement) et de proposer des HBPM sur les antagonistes de la vitamine K (Grade 2B). Nous suggérons des antagonistes de la vitamine K ou HBPM sur dabigatran ou rivaroxaban (Grade 2B.) Nous suggérons des bas de contention pour éviter le syndrome post-thrombotique (Grade 2B). Pour une thrombose veineuse superficielle, nous vous suggérons fondaparinux prophylactique à dose unique ou HBPM plus aucune anticoagulation (Grade 2B), et suggérons fondaparinux sur HBPM (Niveau 2C).
CONCLUSION: Des recommandations fortes s'appliquent à la plupart des patients, alors que les recommandations faibles sont sensibles aux différences entre les patients, y compris leurs préférences.
BACKGROUND: New treatments are available for treatment of venous thromboembolism. PURPOSE: To review the evidence on the efficacy of interventions for treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, MICROMEDEX, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from the 1950s through June 2006. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized, controlled trials; systematic reviews of trials; and observational studies; all restricted to English-language articles. DATA EXTRACTION: Paired reviewers assessed study quality and abstracted data. The authors pooled results about optimal duration of anticoagulation. DATA SYNTHESIS: This review includes 101 articles. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is modestly superior to unfractionated heparin at preventing recurrent DVT and is at least as effective as unfractionated heparin for treatment of pulmonary embolism. Outpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism is likely to be effective and safe in carefully chosen patients, with appropriate services available. Inpatient or outpatient use of LMWH is cost-saving or cost-effective compared with unfractionated heparin. In observational studies, catheter-directed thrombolysis safely restored vein patency in select patients. Moderately strong evidence supports early use of compression stockings to reduce postthrombotic syndrome. Limited evidence suggests that vena cava filters are only modestly efficacious for prevention of pulmonary embolism. Conventional-intensity oral anticoagulation beyond 12 months may be optimal for patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism, although patients with transient risk factors benefit little from more than 3 months of therapy. High-quality trials support use of LMWH in place of oral anticoagulation, particularly in patients with cancer. Little evidence is available to guide treatment of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. LIMITATIONS: The authors could not address all management questions, and excluded non-English-language literature. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of evidence varies across the study questions but generally is strong.
