1. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) The Patient Journey
Marilyn Rees
Venous Thrombosis Nurse Specialist

2. Overview Diagnosis of DVT Goals of treatment
Challenges of DVT Treatment
Case studies
Quiz

3. Clinical Diagnosis of DVT
DVT symptoms can be nonspecific, making it difficult to diagnose.
Presence of DVT risk factors increase the likelihood of having the disease
Objective testing must be used to confirm or rule out suspicion
The signs and symptoms of both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) can be nonspecific; as a consequence, many patients who present withleg pain and swelling are evaluated, but do not have DVT or PE.1
Risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been extensively evaluated in order to provide greater diagnostic specificity. As will be shown in this presentation, specific risk factors have been identified that dramatically increase the diagnostic probability of DVT or PE. However, objective testing must be used to confirm or rule out suspected VTE.

4. Approaches to Diagnosis of DVT
Patient History
Clinical Symptoms and Signs
Clinical Probability Score
Laboratory Testing
Imaging Testing

5. Clinical Signs and Symptoms of DVT (Nonsurgical Patients)
Leg pain (90%)
Tenderness (85%)
Ankle oedema (76%)
Calf swelling (42%)
Dilated veins (33%)
Homan’s sign (33%)
(sharp pain in the calf on dorsiflexion of the foot)
Symptoms of DVT occur when large clots partially or totally occlude blood flow in the vein. Clinical signs and symptoms of DVT may include leg pain, tenderness, ankle oedema, calf swelling, dilated veins, and Homan’s sign (a sharp pain in the on dorsiflexion of the foot).
Reference Haeger K. Problems of acute deep venous thrombosis. I. The interpretation of signs and symptoms. Angiology. 1969;20:

6. Clinical Signs and Symptoms of DVT (cont’d)
DVT cannot be reliably diagnosed on the basis of history and physical exam, even in high-risk patients.
Patients with lower extremity DVT often do not exhibit erythema, warmth, swelling, or tenderness
(Symptoms in surgical patients are often masked by common post- operative pain and limb swelling)
When present, these findings merit further evaluation despite lack of specificity
Although the clinical signs and symptoms of DVT can provide initial evidence to drive further investigation, DVT cannot be reliably diagnosed on the basis of history and physical exam, even in high-risk patients.
For example, patients with lower-extremity DVT frequently do not display erythema, warmth, pain, swelling, or tenderness. In clinical studies, sensitivity of calf pain for acute DVT varies from 66% to 91% and specificity ranges from 26% to 74%. Similarly, Homans’sign and swelling of the calf or leg are remarkably inconsistent diagnostic factors.
When present, these factors warrant further investigation; however, the clinical diagnosis of DVT in the lower extremities cannot be established with certainty without incorporating objective testing into the diagnosis paradigm.

7. Diagnostic Algorithms
Clinical diagnosis of DVT is non-specific because none of the signs in isolation are particular to the disease
In symptomatic patients, clinical pre-test models can be used to determine probability of DVT or PE
VTE cannot be reliably diagnosed on the basis of patient history and clinical examination alone. For this reason, clinical pretest models should be used to determine the probability of DVT or PE.

8. Wells Scoring System for Diagnosing DVT
Clinical Characteristic
Score*
Active cancer (treatment ongoing, within, 6 months or palliative) 1
Paralysis, paresis, or recent plaster immobilization of the lower extremity
Bedridden for >3 days or major surgery with general/regional anaesthesia within previous 12 weeks
Localized tenderness along the distribution of the deep venous system
Entire leg swollen
Calf swelling 3 cm larger than asymptomatic side (measured 10 cm below tibial tuberosity)
Pitting oedema confined to symptomatic leg
Collateral superficial veins (non-varicose)
Previous documented DVT
Alternative diagnosis at least as likely as DVT e.g
(Popliteal (Baker) cyst, superficial thrombophlebitis, muscle pulls/tears, chronic venous insufficiency, and others) -2
Clinical probability simplified score
DVT likely
2 points or more
DVT unlikely
1 point or less
The clinical diagnosis of DVT is nonspecific because none of the signs in isolation are particular to this disease. A clinical prediction rule has been developed that incorporates the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for VTE to categorize patients as having a low,moderate, or high probability of DVT.
Multiple studies have demonstrated the reproducibility of this model. Moreover, studies using confirmatory ultrasound have found that patients at low clinical pre-test probability as determined by clinical criteria can have DVT safely excluded based on a negative ultrasound test of the proximal veins.

9. Alternative Diagnosis

10. VTE Investigations Laboratory D Dimer
(degradation product of a cross- linked fibrin blood clot)
D-dimer has a high false-positive rate
Sensitive but nonspecific also increased in other conditions:
cancer,
inflammation,
postoperatively,
injury,
pregnancy.
Laboratory testing for the presence of D-dimer—the breakdown product of a cross-linked fibrin blood clot—can help exclude VTE. However, D-dimer is relatively nonspecific, as levels may be increased in nonthrombotic disorders (eg, recent major surgery, hemorrhage, trauma, malignancy, or sepsis). D-dimer levels may also increase with age. Compression ultrasound is the noninvasive technique of choice in symptomatic patients with DVT. Noncompressibility of a proximal lower limb vein, in the transverse section, has a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 99%

11. Non-invasive testing Doppler Compression Ultrasound
Non-invasive, no contraindications.
High accuracy in
symptomatic patients (91%)

12. Venous system in lower limbs
PROXIMAL VEINS
DISTAL VEINS

14. What happens next?

15. Four Goals of VTE Treatment
Prevent fatal PE
Reduce morbidity associated with acute leg or lung thrombus
Prevent recurrent VTE
Prevent long-term sequelae

16. DVT Confirmed
1.Full medical assessment to consider underlying pathology including breast examination in women over 30yrs of age and rectal examination if indicated by symptoms.
2. If pv examination is necessary this will be highlighted in the discharge letter as the DVT clinic is not a suitable environment for this to occur.
3. Full blood screen including :
FBC, Ferritin, U+E/ eGFR, LFT, Baseline Coag and INR, Bone
profile, Urine dipstick (and Pregnancy test in women of child bearing age)
CXR in unprovoked DVT
PSA if required (following PR examination/if prostatic symptoms)
Tumour markers if abdominal symptoms/signs.

17. Malignancy 10% Unprovoked DVT / PE present with cancer within 1 year
A Presenting sign in:
Pancreatic cancer
Prostate cancer
Late sign in:
Breast cancer
Lung cancer
Uterine cancer
Brain cancer

18. Investigations for cancer
Offer all patients diagnosed with unprovoked DVT or PE who are not already known to have cancer the following investigations for cancer:
a physical examination (guided by the patient's full history)
and
a chest X-ray
blood tests (full blood count, serum calcium and liver function tests)
urinalysis.
Consider
Further investigations for cancer with an abdomino-pelvic CT scan (and a mammogram for women) in all patients aged over 40 years with a first unprovoked DVT or PE who do not have signs or symptoms of cancer based on initial investigation (see 'Investigations for cancer' above).

19. Two Phases of VTE Management
Initial Treatment
• ≥5 d treatment with SC LMWH or IV UFH,
• Discontinue when INR >2.0 for 48 hr
• Initiation of VKA together with LMWH or UFH on first treatment day Or
Initiation with New Oral Anti-coagulant (Rivaroxaban)
Long-term treatment
• Necessary for patients at continuous risk for recurrence
• Duration of treatment is dependent on underlying disease and risk factors
• Appropriate treatment can reduce the risk of recurrence to approximately 5% at 3 months
n patients with objectively confirmed DVT, the guidelines recommend short-term treatment with SC LMWH, IV UFH, monitored SC UFH, fixed dose SC UFH or SC fondaparinux. A vitamin-K antagonist (warfarin) should be initiated with LMWH and UFH or SC fondaparinux on the first treatment day. Treatment with LMWH, UFH, or fondaparinux should be discontinued when the INR is stable and ≥2.0 for 24 hours.
As will be summarized in this section, the longer-term duration of treatment is highly dependent on the presence/absence of underlying disease and the presence/absence of risk factors. A treatment regimen of 3-6 months of oral anticoagulant therapy following 5-10 days of heparin therapy reduces the risk for short-term thromboembolic complications to 5% or less.
TIME

20. 1st idiopathic DVT □ Recurrent DVT □ 1st Precipitated DVT □
Surgery past 12 weeks
Lower limb fracture
Lower limb in plaster
Pregnant
Post partum up to 12 weeks
(Travel / COCP / HRT)
Distal DVT (below knee) □
Proximal DVT (above knee) □
Distal DVT (below knee) □
Proximal DVT (above knee) □
Anticoagulate
3 months □
Anticoagulate
3 months □
Refer to ART (if suitable) □
Refer to ART (if suitable) □
If no family history DVT / PE Discharge at end of treatment □
Thrombosis Clinic
Follow up at 3 months □
If family history DVT / PE □

21. Traditional approaches of Anticoagulation
Heparin
Minimum of 5 days
Until INR > 2 on at least 2 occasions
Warfarin
PE minimum 3 months
Idiopathic proximal DVT minimum 3 months
Idiopathic distal DVT 3 months
Provoked distal DVT 3 months
Recurrent DVT / PE long term 21

22. New approaches to anticoagulation Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and ODIs
VII
VKA TF
VIIa
Initiation
VKA X IX
Propagation Xa
IXa II
VKA
This slide shows a simplified model of the coagulation pathway.
Different anticoagulants target different point in the coagulation pathway.
VKAs such as warfarin inhibit the vitamin-K-dependent synthesis of Factors II, VII, IX and X as well as numerous other proteins.
RIVAROXABAN
APIXABAN
EDOXABAN
Inactive factor
Active factor
Transformation
IIa
DABIGATRAN
Catalysis
Clot formation
Fibrinogen
Fibrin 22 22 22

24. OUT-PATIENT TREATMENT OF DVT
Low molecular weight heparin
Enoxaparin should be continued until the INR has been >2 for 2 consecutive days and for a minimum of 5 days.
Warfarin
If the initial PT is <17s (INR <1.3) the patient will receive 5mg of warfarin on the evenings (17:00 to 19:00) of days 1 and 2.
The INR is checked on the mornings of day 3 and 4 and the warfarin dose is adjusted according to the schedule:
If the patient is on an anti-platelet medication a doctor should review whether this is to continue, whilst the patient is on warfarin.
Indication
Target INR (+/- 0.5)
Duration
Follow up
1st idiopathic proximal DVT
2.5
≥ 3 months
Thrombosis Clinic
1st precipitated proximal DVT
3 months
*No follow up
1st idiopathic distal DVT
1st precipitated distal DVT
Recurrent DVT not on warfarin / sub- therapeutic INR
Recurrent DVT on warfarin and therapeutic INR
3.5
Long-term
Day 1 and 2
Day 3
Day 4
INR Dose
INR Dose
Warfarin 5mg each day
< mg mg mg mg
> mg
< mg mg mg mg mg mg mg mg
> mg

25. Rivaroxaban as an alternative to warfarin
Patients who have suffered a 1st precipitated DVT and only require 3 months anticoagulation will be offered the option of warfarin or rivaroxaban
Patients with a history of excessive alcohol consumption, in whom warfarin and INR monitoring will be difficult will be offered the option of LMWH or rivaroxaban
Patients with poor venous access e.g. history of IVDU will be offered the option of LMWH or rivaroxaban
First 3 weeks
Subsequent 9 weeks
Rivaroxaban 15mg bd
Rivaroxaban 20mg od

26. Treatment options for Venous Thromboembolism in patients with solid tumours
Shared agreement between Bro Taf and Cardiff and Vale
Extended treatment with Dalteparin for up to 6 months
Prescribe Dalteparin at approximately 200 iu/ kg total body weight subcutaneously once daily for the first 30days
Months 2-6 Dalteparin should be administered at a dose of approxiamtely 150 iu/kg s/c once daily
Recommended treatment is 6 months.
Continuing beyond this period will be evaluated according to individuals risk/benefits and progression of cancer

27. Treat for 3 months and reassess Isolated distal DVT Stop at 3 months
Reversible provoking factor
Stop at 3 months
Unprovoked proximal DVT or PE
Review options
Cancer
Indefinite therapy or until cancer inactive
High Bleeding Risk OR
Prefers to stop even if D Dimer positive
Others
Stop and measure D Dimer at 1 month
Not High Bleeding Risk and prefers to stay on even if D Dimer is negative
Second VTE
Indefinite therapy
Use of D Dimer testing to guide treatment decisions in patients with a first unprovoked proximal DVT or PE is optional.
If D Dimer is not used , the decision is based on risk of bleeding and patient preference (estimated risk of recurrence in the first year of 12% for men 8% for women).
Negative D Dimer
Stay off therapy
(Stop at 3 months)
Positive D Dimer
Restart therapy
(Indefinite therapy)

28. TAKE 100 ASYMPTOMATIC CALF DVT %-20% of them become proximal Half of these will embolise i.e.8%-10% Half of these will be symptomatic PE ( i.e. 4%-5% or PE’s) Untreated PE (1.0% of the total) symptomatic and non-fatal –26% (1.0% of the total) will be fatal PE. TAKE 100 SYMPTOMATIC CALF DVT symptomatic DVT 21%-36% of them become proximal Half of these will embolisei.e.8%-18% Half of these will be symptomatic PE (ie4%-9% or PE’s) Untreated PE –26% (1.5% of the total) symptomatic and non-fatal –26% (1.5% of the total) will be fatal PE Cohen AT, JTH 2006

29. Case History 1 48yr old male
Presenting with 4/52 history of ‘sciatic’ type lower back pain radiating down left leg.
No past medical history but awaiting private gastro-enterologist review for ‘epigastric’ type pain and MRI for back pain
Wells score – 2 ( Calf >3cms, pitting oedema unilaterally)
Doppler Ultrasound – Gastrocnemius vein clot (not extending into popliteal vein)
Re-scanned in 1/52 – Gastrocnemius clot extended into popliteal ven
Initial treatment with LMWH whilst awaiting result of MRI
Urgent CT Chest, abdo and pelvis
Malignant sacral bone lesion with widespread retroperitoneal and thoracic small volume tissue deposits
Plan – Admission – Biopsy
Management of DVT – insertion of IVC filter
Anti-coagulation – determined following biopsy result.

30. Case history 2 63yr old female
Presenting with one day history of calf pain
History of 7hr car journey plus 31/2hr flight
Lower leg feeling ‘itchy’
PMH – Asthma
Wells Score 1
D Dimer +ve
Doppler Ultrasound – Left Tibial DVT
Treatment choice – Rivaroxaban
No follow up

31. Case history 3 83yr old female
5/52 history of painful/ swollen left leg
Initially treated by GP as cellulitis with antibiotics
No response after 2/52
Doppler ultrasound – Left ileo-femoral DVT
No provoking factors other than age and limited mobility (chronic)
No red flags
Plan
Warfarin/LMWH
Review at 3/12

32. Clot Quiz DVT? Or something else………

33. Suffered trauma to knee
This is an effusion

34. Ruptured Bakers Cyst

35. Hit by a car driven by his girlfriend accidentally’
Sustained fracture tibia, put in plaster
Returned 3 days later complainiing of pain and parasthesiae in toes.
Diagnosed with compartment syndrome, went to theatre

36. Cellulitis

37. Slide on the left shows massive lower extremity swelling secondary to idiopathic impaired lymphatic drainage
Slide on the left shows right sided DVT

38. Left Popliteal vein DVT

39. Left distal DVT

40. One Final Point Why you should ask about clots
Blood clots can happen to anyone.
If you are in hospital – or have left hospital in the last three months – you are at greater risk of developing a clot.
Blood clots are preventable!
Ask your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you reduce your risk of developing a clot.
Watch the video to find out more

42. Thank You The venous return from your leg has now slowed by 50%.
Please ensure you have re-established sufficient flow before the next speaker to reduce your risk of a (potentially fatal) VTE.