Superficial venous interventions: assessing the risk of DVT.

Interventional Radiology Section, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. vedanthams@mir.wustl.edu

OBJECTIVES: Understand the potential consequences of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing superficial venous interventions, the proper way to assess DVT risk in patients with superficial venous disease and the appropriate management of patients stratified by risk level. METHODS: Review of published literature RESULTS: Because DVT can have major long-term consequences, DVT risk should be assessed as a routine part of the preprocedure evaluation of venous disease. Chronic venous disease may have multiple contributing factors amenable to treatment in both the superficial and deep venous systems. CONCLUSION: Superficial venous interventions should be deferred in patients at particularly high risk for DVT, but may be performed with appropriate countermeasures for DVT prophylaxis in patients at moderate risk.

PMID: 18453479 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]