Patterns of Discharge Disposition among Patients Diagnosed with Venous Thromboembolism in the Emergency Department: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Evaluation

Abstract

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) includes both Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and can range from asymptomatic to fatal. It is a common medical condition annually affecting at least 9,00,000 individuals in the United States. Mortality for untreated PE is approximately 30%, which can decrease to 2-8% with adequate treatment. In 2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, VTE caused more deaths than breast cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, and traffic accidents combined.