Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center

There is currently no established management pathway for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis (SVT), leading to significant uncertainty among front-line providers. This study aimed to assess prescribing practices and patient outcomes for the initial treatment of lower extremity SVT. This des...

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Main Authors: Gisoo Imani, Aaron Wilson, Sara Vazquez, Daniel M. Witt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2025-03-01
Series:Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
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Online Access:https://www.btvb.org/btvb/article/view/155
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author Gisoo Imani
Aaron Wilson
Sara Vazquez
Daniel M. Witt
author_facet Gisoo Imani
Aaron Wilson
Sara Vazquez
Daniel M. Witt
author_sort Gisoo Imani
collection DOAJ
description There is currently no established management pathway for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis (SVT), leading to significant uncertainty among front-line providers. This study aimed to assess prescribing practices and patient outcomes for the initial treatment of lower extremity SVT. This descriptive retrospective cohort study in a single center included consecutive patients with radiographically diagnosed acute lower extremity isolated SVT between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021. Exclusions were chronic SVT, concomitant deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, required anticoagulation for another indication, or no documented SVT treatment plan. This 6-year study included 265 patients. The majority received conservative therapy as the SVT management strategy (n=188, 70.9%), while 23% (n=61) received anticoagulation therapy. Few patients received no treatment (n=13, 4.9%) or surgery (n=3, 1.1%). The most common strategy in those utilizing anticoagulation was a VTE treatment-dose DOAC, but the duration varied considerably (11.5% 30 days or less, 37.7% 31-45 days, 21.3% for 46-90 days, and 24.6% >90 days). Ninety-day progression to VTE occurred in 8 patients (3.1%, 2 in the anticoagulation therapy group and 6 in the conservative therapy group). Bleeding occurred in 6 patients (2.3%, 4 in the conservative therapy group and 2 in the anticoagulation group).  Over a six-year period, there were varying pathways of managing acute lower extremity SVT without a concerning signal in adverse events with any single treatment approach. Future study should focus on which patients benefit from anticoagulation therapy vs conservative therapy and clarifying the optimal anticoagulation treatment intensity and duration.
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spelling doaj-art-547320cda77245ce86e133f82a10dff62025-08-20T02:08:40ZengPAGEPress PublicationsBleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology2785-53092025-03-0141Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical centerGisoo Imani0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2548-9601Aaron Wilson1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0870-7874Sara Vazquez2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9267-8980Daniel M. Witt3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3930-8358Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UTDepartment of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT; Health Thrombosis Service, University of Utah, Murray, UTDepartment of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT; Health Thrombosis Service, University of Utah, Murray, UTDepartment of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT; Health Thrombosis Service, University of Utah, Murray, UT There is currently no established management pathway for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis (SVT), leading to significant uncertainty among front-line providers. This study aimed to assess prescribing practices and patient outcomes for the initial treatment of lower extremity SVT. This descriptive retrospective cohort study in a single center included consecutive patients with radiographically diagnosed acute lower extremity isolated SVT between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021. Exclusions were chronic SVT, concomitant deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, required anticoagulation for another indication, or no documented SVT treatment plan. This 6-year study included 265 patients. The majority received conservative therapy as the SVT management strategy (n=188, 70.9%), while 23% (n=61) received anticoagulation therapy. Few patients received no treatment (n=13, 4.9%) or surgery (n=3, 1.1%). The most common strategy in those utilizing anticoagulation was a VTE treatment-dose DOAC, but the duration varied considerably (11.5% 30 days or less, 37.7% 31-45 days, 21.3% for 46-90 days, and 24.6% >90 days). Ninety-day progression to VTE occurred in 8 patients (3.1%, 2 in the anticoagulation therapy group and 6 in the conservative therapy group). Bleeding occurred in 6 patients (2.3%, 4 in the conservative therapy group and 2 in the anticoagulation group).  Over a six-year period, there were varying pathways of managing acute lower extremity SVT without a concerning signal in adverse events with any single treatment approach. Future study should focus on which patients benefit from anticoagulation therapy vs conservative therapy and clarifying the optimal anticoagulation treatment intensity and duration. https://www.btvb.org/btvb/article/view/155Superficial vein thrombosisdirect oral anticoagulantsanticoagulation
spellingShingle Gisoo Imani
Aaron Wilson
Sara Vazquez
Daniel M. Witt
Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center
Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Superficial vein thrombosis
direct oral anticoagulants
anticoagulation
title Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center
title_full Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center
title_fullStr Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center
title_full_unstemmed Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center
title_short Pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center
title_sort pathways for lower extremity superficial vein thrombosis management in an academic medical center
topic Superficial vein thrombosis
direct oral anticoagulants
anticoagulation
url https://www.btvb.org/btvb/article/view/155
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AT aaronwilson pathwaysforlowerextremitysuperficialveinthrombosismanagementinanacademicmedicalcenter
AT saravazquez pathwaysforlowerextremitysuperficialveinthrombosismanagementinanacademicmedicalcenter
AT danielmwitt pathwaysforlowerextremitysuperficialveinthrombosismanagementinanacademicmedicalcenter