Swansea Acute GP Unit Addendum Pathway for DVT Assessment and Treatment. (Rivaroxaban Use). To be viewed in conjunction with existing DVT Pathway Documents Prepared by Dr Chris Johns Introduction Acute deep vein thrombosis is a common and potentially life threatening disorder. It has an incidence of around 1:1000 patients per year, the incidence increasing with age Pulmonary embolism, which generally regarded as part of the same spectrum of disease, occurs at about half this frequency Uncomplicated DVT is now widely managed on an outpatient and most patients can be treated at home without problem This positively contributes to the drive to reduce pressure on acute hospital beds and importantly can reduce the time that patients have to spend waiting to be seen in the A&E department or MAU. However the pathways currently in place in our area tend to be complex with poor adherence. This guideline supports the principal that all patients suspected of having a DVT should be treated at home, once diagnosis has been confirmed and there are no contra-indications to home treatment. This also looks at using new technology in the form of novel anticoagulants to make the pathway simpler Swansea DVT Pathway has been running for 2 and there is confidence with the existing assessment pathway. Using Rivaroxaban treatment where appropriate will reduce attendances and simply the patient journey. Clinical Features A diagnosis of DVT is usually suspected in patients who complain of a painful swollen limb. However, the clinical picture can vary widely and none of the clinical features is sufficiently specific to be diagnostic. Less than a third of patients referred for tests after initial history and clinical examination prove to have a DVT. Clinical diagnosis is notoriously difficult Common features are: Pain or tenderness of the leg Swelling of calf or leg
Swansea Acute GP Unit Addendum Pathway for DVT Assessment and Treatment. (Rivaroxaban Use). To be viewed in conjunction with existing DVT Pathway Documents Prepared by Dr Chris Johns Introduction Acute deep vein thrombosis is a common and potentially life threatening disorder. It has an incidence of around 1:1000 patients per year, the incidence increasing with age Pulmonary embolism, which generally regarded as part of the same spectrum of disease, occurs at about half this frequency Uncomplicated DVT is now widely managed on an outpatient and most patients can be treated at home without problem This positively contributes to the drive to reduce pressure on acute hospital beds and importantly can reduce the time that patients have to spend waiting to be seen in the A&E department or MAU. However the pathways currently in place in our area tend to be complex with poor adherence. This guideline supports the principal that all patients suspected of having a DVT should be treated at home, once diagnosis has been confirmed and there are no contra-indications to home treatment. This also looks at using new technology in the form of novel anticoagulants to make the pathway simpler Swansea DVT Pathway has been running for 2 and there is confidence with the existing assessment pathway. Using Rivaroxaban treatment where appropriate will reduce attendances and simply the patient journey. Clinical Features A diagnosis of DVT is usually suspected in patients who complain of a painful swollen limb. However, the clinical picture can vary widely and none of the clinical features is sufficiently specific to be diagnostic. Less than a third of patients referred for tests after initial history and clinical examination prove to have a DVT. Clinical diagnosis is notoriously difficult Common features are: Pain or tenderness of the leg Swelling of calf or leg
New_DVT1.docx