Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompasses two interrelated conditions that are part of the same spectrum: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). PE and DVT can occur in the setting of disease processes, after hospitalization for serious illness, or after major surgery.
Thromboembolic disease is the third most common acute cardiovascular disease, after cardiac ischemic syndromes and stroke. The spectrum of disease ranges from clinically unsuspected to clinically unimportant to massive embolism causing death, and indeed DVT and PE frequently remain undiagnosed because they may not be suspected clinically. Untreated acute proximal DVT causes clinical PE in 33%-50% of patients. Untreated PE is often recurrent over days to weeks and can either improve spontaneously or cause death.
Are you familiar with key aspects of VTE, including best practices for diagnosis and treatment? Refresh and test your knowledge with this short quiz.
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Cite this: Zab Mosenifar. Fast Five Quiz: Venous Thromboembolism - Medscape - Sep 11, 2019.
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