Advances in diagnosis and treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism

Abstract

Over the last 5 years, several important advances have occurred in the clinical management of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Key developments in such VTE treatment being; approval of the new (non-vitamin K) oral anticoagulant drugs, development and validation of prediction models for assigning patients into high or low risk groups of contracting venous thrombosis and its recurrence, together with selecting the most appropriate management of VTE in those also suffering cancer. This article reviews issues of VTE treatment, ranging from acute management, through to its long term treatment and how any complications so arising are best dealt with.