TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnosis and management of venous thromboembolism: Results of a survey on current clinical practice
AU - Squizzato, Alessandro
AU - Micieli, Evy
AU - Galli, Matteo
AU - Gibson, Nadine
AU - Gerdes, Victor E. A.
AU - Dentali, Francesco
AU - Buller, Harry
AU - Ageno, Walter
AU - Venco, Achille
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Background: The implementation of evidence from clinical studies into daily clinical practice is not a straightforward process. We developed a standardized questionnaire to explore clinical practice patterns in the management of VTE, in particular about the use of pre-clinical probability and D-dimer testing and on the home treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: The standardized questionnaire was sent to all 394 physician members of the Italian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (SISET) by e-mail. The questionnaire contained three groups of questions: about general information, about the diagnostic process for both deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and PE, and about home-therapy of PE. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight (32.5%) physicians responded the questionnaire. For DVT diagnosis 69 (54.3%) physicians answered that they always use the D-dimer test; 4 (3.1%) do never use it; whereas only 11 (8.7%) take notice of the D-dimer result before visiting the patients; 38 (29.9%) use only clinical judgment to assess pre-clinical probability of disease. For the diagnosis of PE 80 (66.1%) physicians always use the D-dimer test, whereas 3 (2.5%) do never use it; whereas 14 (11.7%) take notice of the D-dimer result before visiting the patients; 50 (41.3%) use only clinical judgment to assess pre-clinical probability. Sixty-six (59.5%) clinicians declared to treat patients with PE at home, when feasible. Conclusion: The diagnostic approach to VTE among expert physicians appears to be heterogeneous; in particular there is no widespread use of clinical prediction rules. The majority of expert physicians appear to consider the possibility of treating at home patients with PE. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
AB - Background: The implementation of evidence from clinical studies into daily clinical practice is not a straightforward process. We developed a standardized questionnaire to explore clinical practice patterns in the management of VTE, in particular about the use of pre-clinical probability and D-dimer testing and on the home treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: The standardized questionnaire was sent to all 394 physician members of the Italian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (SISET) by e-mail. The questionnaire contained three groups of questions: about general information, about the diagnostic process for both deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and PE, and about home-therapy of PE. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight (32.5%) physicians responded the questionnaire. For DVT diagnosis 69 (54.3%) physicians answered that they always use the D-dimer test; 4 (3.1%) do never use it; whereas only 11 (8.7%) take notice of the D-dimer result before visiting the patients; 38 (29.9%) use only clinical judgment to assess pre-clinical probability of disease. For the diagnosis of PE 80 (66.1%) physicians always use the D-dimer test, whereas 3 (2.5%) do never use it; whereas 14 (11.7%) take notice of the D-dimer result before visiting the patients; 50 (41.3%) use only clinical judgment to assess pre-clinical probability. Sixty-six (59.5%) clinicians declared to treat patients with PE at home, when feasible. Conclusion: The diagnostic approach to VTE among expert physicians appears to be heterogeneous; in particular there is no widespread use of clinical prediction rules. The majority of expert physicians appear to consider the possibility of treating at home patients with PE. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2009.05.008
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2009.05.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 19467698
SN - 0049-3848
VL - 125
SP - 134
EP - 136
JO - Thrombosis research
JF - Thrombosis research
IS - 2
ER -