Therapeutic Update on the Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common condition that increases in incidence with age and risk factors. Therapies for VTE are aimed at either preventing the disease in high-risk individuals or treating patients who have developed VTE. Assessing risk and aggressively using the recommended therapies is primacy in preventing VTE in surgical and medical patients. Risk of VTE in medical patients has become more defined in recent years, and prophylaxis in this group can prevent scores of iatrogenic VTE. Treatment of VTE has evolved in the past decade from a condition that required hospitalization for 5 to 7 days to a disease state that can be conveniently and safely treated on an outpatient basis, largely due to the advent of low-molecular-weight heparins and patient self-directed treatment.