Council aims to raise awareness of deep vein thrombosis - Brief Article

AORN Journal, April, 2002

A group of medical experts representing various specialties has formed the Council for Leadership on Thrombosis Awareness and Management to educate the public about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), according to a Feb 14, 2002, news release from the council. Deep vein thrombosis, an underestimated public health problem, affects approximately two million Americans per year. Of those, 600,000 will develop pulmonary embolism, which is responsible for up to 200,000 deaths per year.

The council plans a campaign to raise awareness of DVT, as well as to advance prevention and treatment methods. Among its initiatives is a national program to screen 7,500 patients at more than 200 hospitals. The program will provide the largest, most comprehensive observational registry of patients with DVT in the United States and lead to development of a nationwide database to define the standard of care for these patients.

The council also will launch a resource center to educate consumers and health professionals on risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of DVT. Risk factors for developing DVT include

* acute medical illness,

* orthopedic or lower extremities surgery,

* cancer,

* chronic heart or respiratory failure,

* inherited or acquired predisposition to clotting,

* varicose veins,

* obesity,

* pregnancy,

* use of birth control pills,

* postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy,

* advanced age, and

* long distance travel.

Symptoms of DVT may include tenderness, pain, swelling, and discoloration or redness. Often, however, DVT causes no symptoms at all. Patients or physicians seeking more information about DVT or the council can call (800) CLOT-FREE.

Medical Experts Unite to Raise Awareness of Risk, Threat of Blood Clots (news release, Tarrytown, NY: Council for Leadership on Thrombosis Awareness and Management, Feb 14, 2002) http://www.nurses.com/content/hubs/dir .asp?hub=News (accessed 19 Feb 2002).