Special Focus on Management of Superficial Vein Thrombosis

The options for treatment and management of superficial vein thrombosis will be the focus of “Venous Imaging, Thrombophilia” on Saturday morning. 

“This session will include talks on management of superficial vein thrombosis using direct oral anticoagulants, balancing anticoagulation with bleeding risk after surgery, and predicting patients at risk of post-thrombotic syndrome,” said Dr. Ian J. Franklin of the Imperial College and London Vascular Clinic. Dr. Franklin is co-moderator of the second half of the morning session. “There is much variation in practice in these areas, which will be addressed during the presentations,” he said.

“We have a fairly decent grasp regarding the optimal management of some aspects of venous disease,” added co-moderator Dr. Timothy K. Liem, professor of surgery at Oregon Health & Science University and codirector for quality at the Knight Cardiovascular Institute. “For example, in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, the vast majority of clinicians would administer therapeutic anticoagulation for at least 3 months. However, when it comes to other very common venous problems and scenarios, such as superficial vein thrombosis (with or without the presence of venous reflux), there are still significant knowledge gaps with regard to optimal care. The same goes for perioperative management of anticoagulation and prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome,” he continued. “This has led to significant variability in the ways patients are treated. Attendees will learn more about these issues and ways to better manage their patients.” 

Dr. Franklin and Dr. Liem will each be making several presentations. 

“Trial evidence is consistent in showing that risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with superficial vein thrombosis is reduced significantly by prolonged treatment with anticoagulants, but the number needed to prevent one VTE episode is more than 80,” explained Dr. Franklin. “This presents problems relating to cost and clinical effectiveness, which will be discussed in the session.” In one talk, Dr. Franklin will be discussing the grading of severity of venous thrombophlebitis and variation of treatment between primary and secondary care. He will also be covering treatment options: anticoagulation, compression, and follow-up. 

Dr. Liem will be highlighting anticoagulation issues, looking at the use of direct oral anticoagulants in one talk and management of anticoagulation to avoid postoperative hemorrhage in another. “The presentations will allow attendees who specialize in venous disease to understand when to anticoagulate and when to administer compression for patients with superficial vein thrombosis,” he stated. “It will also allow these physicians to better identify patients who are at increased risk of developing post-thrombotic syndrome.” In addition, he noted, “we hope to provide a better understanding regarding optimal strategies for managing coagulation that minimize the risk of postoperative hemorrhage while reducing the risk for recurrent thromboembolism during surgery or other invasive procedures.” 

Dr. Tomasz Urbanek of the Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, will present the final talk on the predictive factors of post-thrombotic syndrome. When asked how the session might influence the practices of those in attendance, Dr. Franklin replied, “Hopefully, it will result in more rational use of anticoagulation treatment for patients with superficial vein thrombosis, better use of direct oral anticoagulants as a treatment option, and safer surgery on anticoagulated patients.” 

Dr. Liem concluded, “These sessions will have the goal of helping clinicians standardize as much of our care as possible.” Dr. Franklin added, “The take-home message is better risk stratification may help rationalize treatment.” ■

The options for treatment and management of superficial vein thrombosis will be the focus of “Venous Imaging, Thrombophilia” on Saturday morning. 

“This session will include talks on management of superficial vein thrombosis using direct oral anticoagulants, balancing anticoagulation with bleeding risk after surgery, and predicting patients at risk of post-thrombotic syndrome,” said Dr. Ian J. Franklin of the Imperial College and London Vascular Clinic. Dr. Franklin is co-moderator of the second half of the morning session. “There is much variation in practice in these areas, which will be addressed during the presentations,” he said.

“We have a fairly decent grasp regarding the optimal management of some aspects of venous disease,” added co-moderator Dr. Timothy K. Liem, professor of surgery at Oregon Health & Science University and codirector for quality at the Knight Cardiovascular Institute. “For example, in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, the vast majority of clinicians would administer therapeutic anticoagulation for at least 3 months. However, when it comes to other very common venous problems and scenarios, such as superficial vein thrombosis (with or without the presence of venous reflux), there are still significant knowledge gaps with regard to optimal care. The same goes for perioperative management of anticoagulation and prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome,” he continued. “This has led to significant variability in the ways patients are treated. Attendees will learn more about these issues and ways to better manage their patients.” 

Dr. Franklin and Dr. Liem will each be making several presentations. 

“Trial evidence is consistent in showing that risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with superficial vein thrombosis is reduced significantly by prolonged treatment with anticoagulants, but the number needed to prevent one VTE episode is more than 80,” explained Dr. Franklin. “This presents problems relating to cost and clinical effectiveness, which will be discussed in the session.” In one talk, Dr. Franklin will be discussing the grading of severity of venous thrombophlebitis and variation of treatment between primary and secondary care. He will also be covering treatment options: anticoagulation, compression, and follow-up. 

Dr. Liem will be highlighting anticoagulation issues, looking at the use of direct oral anticoagulants in one talk and management of anticoagulation to avoid postoperative hemorrhage in another. “The presentations will allow attendees who specialize in venous disease to understand when to anticoagulate and when to administer compression for patients with superficial vein thrombosis,” he stated. “It will also allow these physicians to better identify patients who are at increased risk of developing post-thrombotic syndrome.” In addition, he noted, “we hope to provide a better understanding regarding optimal strategies for managing coagulation that minimize the risk of postoperative hemorrhage while reducing the risk for recurrent thromboembolism during surgery or other invasive procedures.” 

Dr. Tomasz Urbanek of the Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, will present the final talk on the predictive factors of post-thrombotic syndrome. When asked how the session might influence the practices of those in attendance, Dr. Franklin replied, “Hopefully, it will result in more rational use of anticoagulation treatment for patients with superficial vein thrombosis, better use of direct oral anticoagulants as a treatment option, and safer surgery on anticoagulated patients.” 

Dr. Liem concluded, “These sessions will have the goal of helping clinicians standardize as much of our care as possible.” Dr. Franklin added, “The take-home message is better risk stratification may help rationalize treatment.” ■

The options for treatment and management of superficial vein thrombosis will be the focus of “Venous Imaging, Thrombophilia” on Saturday morning. 

“This session will include talks on management of superficial vein thrombosis using direct oral anticoagulants, balancing anticoagulation with bleeding risk after surgery, and predicting patients at risk of post-thrombotic syndrome,” said Dr. Ian J. Franklin of the Imperial College and London Vascular Clinic. Dr. Franklin is co-moderator of the second half of the morning session. “There is much variation in practice in these areas, which will be addressed during the presentations,” he said.

“We have a fairly decent grasp regarding the optimal management of some aspects of venous disease,” added co-moderator Dr. Timothy K. Liem, professor of surgery at Oregon Health & Science University and codirector for quality at the Knight Cardiovascular Institute. “For example, in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, the vast majority of clinicians would administer therapeutic anticoagulation for at least 3 months. However, when it comes to other very common venous problems and scenarios, such as superficial vein thrombosis (with or without the presence of venous reflux), there are still significant knowledge gaps with regard to optimal care. The same goes for perioperative management of anticoagulation and prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome,” he continued. “This has led to significant variability in the ways patients are treated. Attendees will learn more about these issues and ways to better manage their patients.” 

Dr. Franklin and Dr. Liem will each be making several presentations. 

“Trial evidence is consistent in showing that risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with superficial vein thrombosis is reduced significantly by prolonged treatment with anticoagulants, but the number needed to prevent one VTE episode is more than 80,” explained Dr. Franklin. “This presents problems relating to cost and clinical effectiveness, which will be discussed in the session.” In one talk, Dr. Franklin will be discussing the grading of severity of venous thrombophlebitis and variation of treatment between primary and secondary care. He will also be covering treatment options: anticoagulation, compression, and follow-up. 

Dr. Liem will be highlighting anticoagulation issues, looking at the use of direct oral anticoagulants in one talk and management of anticoagulation to avoid postoperative hemorrhage in another. “The presentations will allow attendees who specialize in venous disease to understand when to anticoagulate and when to administer compression for patients with superficial vein thrombosis,” he stated. “It will also allow these physicians to better identify patients who are at increased risk of developing post-thrombotic syndrome.” In addition, he noted, “we hope to provide a better understanding regarding optimal strategies for managing coagulation that minimize the risk of postoperative hemorrhage while reducing the risk for recurrent thromboembolism during surgery or other invasive procedures.” 

Dr. Tomasz Urbanek of the Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, will present the final talk on the predictive factors of post-thrombotic syndrome. When asked how the session might influence the practices of those in attendance, Dr. Franklin replied, “Hopefully, it will result in more rational use of anticoagulation treatment for patients with superficial vein thrombosis, better use of direct oral anticoagulants as a treatment option, and safer surgery on anticoagulated patients.” 

Dr. Liem concluded, “These sessions will have the goal of helping clinicians standardize as much of our care as possible.” Dr. Franklin added, “The take-home message is better risk stratification may help rationalize treatment.” ■