Acute deep vein thrombosis

Acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a life-threatening condition that can have serious potential consequences. This chapter overviews the comprehensive management of patients with acute DVT. Lower-extremity DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE) are two manifestations of venous thromboembolism (VTE). When VTE is diagnosed, immediate initiation of anticoagulant therapy is imperative. There are three phases of VTE treatment: the initial, long-term, and extended periods. Over the past decade, direct oral anticoagulants, including the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and the factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, have been studied and are now recommended by the 2016 American College of Chest Physicians and the 2014 and 2017 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for both DVT and PE. Extended treatment for long-term prevention of recurrent VTE is indicated for patients with unprovoked VTE, unless bleeding risk is high.