Therapy of acute deep vein thrombosis and prevention of the post-thrombotic syndrome

Abstract

SummaryAim: Evaluation of the use of compression therapy in the management of deep venous thrombosis. Methods: Postal questionnaire among all dermatologists in the Netherlands. Results: The overall response rate was 81%. Availability of a treatment protocol was indicated by 60%. In the acute phase treatment is mostly (91%) initiated by internists, in 70% of these cases compression therapy is given by the dermatologist. A clear association (p <0.001) was found between the use of diagnostic procedures by the dermatologist and the prescription of compression therapy. Home treatment protocols were available in 50%, only in half of these protocols dermatologists were involved. The majority of the dermatologists preferred early mobilisation, 54% prescribed class III flat knitted elastic compression. Conclusions: Our survey indicated that internists in the Netherlands treat deep venous thrombosis. Compression therapy is still not fully incorporated as treatment to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome. Involvement of dermatologists in the actual management as well as the developments of standardised treatment protocols is limited.