Management of venous thromboembolism: why not treat it at home?
Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: Management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) changed greatly after publication in 1996 of landmark randomized controlled trials that revealed that most outpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was as efficacious and safe as conventional hospital-based treatment with intravenous unfractionated heparin.1,2 Although these clinical trials were conservative in assessing patient eligibility for outpatient DVT therapy (approximately one third of the total population screened were eligible), later observational studies in a variety of health care environments determined that about 75% of patients could be successfully treated at home.
These patients’ short-term clinical outcomes were similar to those described in clinical trials.3,4 Additional experiences included patients with DVT treated in emergency departments and discharged home. In 2004, the seventh American College of Chest Physicians’ Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy supported with a grade 1C recommendation use of LMWH for initial treatment of DVT in outpatient settings rather than use of unfractionated heparin in hospital.5
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Author: Alex C Spyropoulos
Language: English
Subfield: Internal Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2139671236