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VTE Risks, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Management Explained by Samwel Mikaye
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

VTE Risks, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Management Explained by Samwel Mikaye

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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CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) DVT Health Hemostasis Hemostasis Today Medicine PE Samwel Mikaye thrombosis Virchow’s Triad VTE
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