Signs and symptoms of VTE

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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

Symptoms of DVT and PE^2-9

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found via United Kingdom – The yellow card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard, or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Adverse events should also be reported to Bristol-Myers Squibb via medical.information@bms.com or 0800 731 1736 (United Kingdom).

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In Managing VTE: Managing VTE | Signs and symptoms of VTE | Diagnosis of VTE |

Abbreviations

DVT=Deep Vein ThrombosisMHRA=Medicines and Healthcare products and Regulatory AgencyPE=Pulmonary Embolism VTE=Venous Thromboembolism

References

Hunt BJ. BMJ 2019; 365: l4239.
Moll S. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2008; 28: 373–379.
Thompson B et al. Patient Education: Pulmonary Embolism (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. 2017.
NICE. Venous thromboembolic diseases: diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing [NG158]. 26 March 2020.
NICE. Diagnosing venous thromboembolism in primary, secondary and tertiary care (NICE Pathways). 2021.
NICE. CKS. Deep vein thrombosis. September 2018.
NICE. CKS. Pulmonary embolism. January 2019.
Pai M et al. Patient Education: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. 2017.
Sekhri V et al. Arch Med Sci 2012; 8: 957–969.

Job code: 432-GB-2100109

Date of preparation: September 2021

Managing and treating patients with VTE