Dr. S.0 MIKAYE/LinkedIn
Dec 20, 2025, 12:17
VTE Risks, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Management Explained by Samwel Mikaye
Samwel Mikaye, CEO of SaMik Medical Center, posted on LinkedIn:
“Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) refers to the formation of a blood clot in the venous system. It includes:
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – clot usually in deep veins of the leg
- Pulmonary Embolism (PE) – clot travels to and blocks pulmonary arteries
Risk factors (Virchow’s triad)
1. Venous stasis
- Prolonged immobility, bed rest
- Long travel
- Heart failure
2. Endothelial injury
- Surgery (especially orthopedic)
- Trauma
- Central venous catheters
3. Hypercoagulability
- Pregnancy & postpartum
- Malignancy
- Oral contraceptives
- Inherited thrombophilias
Clinical features
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Unilateral leg swelling
- Pain or tenderness
- Warmth and redness
- Increased calf circumference
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Chest pain (pleuritic)
- Tachycardia
- Cough ± hemoptysis
- Syncope (severe cases)
Diagnosis
DVT
- Wells score
- D-dimer (screening)
- Compression ultrasound (confirmatory)
PE
- CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) – gold standard
- D-dimer (low-risk patients)
- V/Q scan (when CTPA contraindicated)
Management
Acute treatment
- Anticoagulation
- Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH)
- Unfractionated heparin
- Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs)
- Warfarin (with heparin bridge)
Severe / life-threatening PE
- Thrombolysis
- Surgical or catheter embolectomy
Prevention (VTE prophylaxis)
- Early mobilization
- Compression stockings
- Intermittent pneumatic compression
- Prophylactic anticoagulation (LMWH)
Complications
- Recurrent VTE
- Post-thrombotic syndrome
- Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)”
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