DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY

Course overview

A DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT) IS A BLOOD CLOT THAT FORMS WITHIN THE DEEP VEINS USUALLY OF THE LEG BUT CAN OCCUR IN THE VEINS OF THE ARMS AND THE MESENTERIC AND CEREBRAL VEINS. DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS IS A COMMON AND IMPORTANT DISEASE. IT IS PART OF THE VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM DISORDERS WHICH REPRESENT THE THIRD MOST COMMON CAUSE OF DEATH FROM CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AFTER HEART ATTACKS AND STROKE. EVEN IN PATIENTS WHO DO NOT GET PULMONARY EMBOLI, RECURRENT THROMBOSIS AND "POST-THROMBOTIC SYNDROME" ARE A MAJOR CAUSE OF MORBIDITY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.