Benefits of applying the algorithm for the outpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism in the Department of Emergency Medicine of the University Hospital Center Zagreb

Abstract:

Because of the need for standardizing diagnostic and therapeutic approach to venous thromboembolism (VTE), in particular deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the Emergency Department of the University Hospital Center Zagreb has established a system based on the algorithm for the outpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with NOAC (novel oral anticoagulant) - rivaroxaban. In order to determine the effects of implementing the algorithm into practice, the data on patients treated for suspected DVT during a 14-month period were retrospectively analyzed, and the diagnostic workups during the month of January periods over the last five years were compared. It has been found that this diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm significantly accelerates and simplifies the workup in patients with suspected DVT and enables for a reduction of hospitalizations as well as savings. A majority of these ambulatory patients were treated with rivaroxaban as it was proven effective in the DVT treatment, with favourable safety profile and enabling for early discharge with monotherapy approach.

Key words:
algorithm; anticoagulant therapy; deep vein thrombosis; rivaroxaban; venous ultrasound