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Although VTE is more commonly related to hospital admission, patients can also present to primary care.1 Many of the signs and symptoms, as shown in the figure below, are non-specific and may vary from patient to patient.2,3 As DVT can cause serious long-term consequences and may be fatal if they lead to a PE,4 you should have a high index of suspicion for VTE in patients presenting with any of these signs or symptoms.
All patients with suspected VTE should be subject to initial diagnostic investigations for either DVT or PE. The choice of diagnostic investigations should be based on clinical judgement, and patients should be managed acutely according to the results of those investigations.4 Further investigations are needed to rule out or diagnose DVT or PE.5
In Managing VTE: Managing VTE | Signs and symptoms of VTE | Diagnosis of VTE |
DVT=Deep Vein ThrombosisMHRA=Medicines and Healthcare products and Regulatory AgencyPE=Pulmonary Embolism VTE=Venous Thromboembolism
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