Cardiovascular Diseases
Venous Thrombosis/Pulmonary Embolism
January 2003
Clinical Focus*
Treatment
- What are the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH) for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT)?
- What are the efficacy and safety of LMWH compared with UFH for treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE)?
- What are the efficacy and safety of outpatient versus inpatient treatment of DVT with LMWH or UFH?
- What is the cost-effectiveness of outpatient versus inpatient treatment of DVT with LMWH or UFH?
- What is the optimal duration of treatment for DVT and PE in patients without known thrombophilic disorders and in patients with thrombophilic disorders?
- The main outcomes of interest again were death, recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), and bleeding complications.
Diagnosis
- How accurate are clinical prediction rules used for the diagnosis of DVT or PE?
- What are the test characteristics of ultrasonography for diagnosis of DVT?
- Are calf vein thromboses adequately identified with ultrasound?
- What are the test characteristics of helical computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of PE relative to ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scanning or standard angiography?
- What are the test characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for diagnosis of PE relative to V/Q scanning and/or standard angiography?
- What are the test characteristics of D-dimer for diagnosis of VTE?
*Addressed in the summary or evidence report.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
Summary (Publication No. 03-E012, January 2003)
Evidence Report (Publication No. 03-E016, March 2003)
(PDF Files; File Download)
EPC: Johns Hopkins University
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