Diagnostic strategies for venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common condition where a blood clot blocks a vein. This can lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), usually in the legs, or a pulmonary embolism, where the clot travels to the lungs and blocks a blood vessel. Both conditions can have serious consequences and need quick diagnosis and treatment.
This thesis explores new strategies to improve care for VTE patients. The first part investigated the use of a decision rule (the YEARS algorithm) that could help detect pulmonary embolisms in COVID-19 patients more quickly and accurately. This proved to be an effective method for better and faster diagnosis.
The second part studied an innovative approach for patients suspected of having DVT. Diagnosis was deferred by one day, and patients received a single dose of blood thinners from their general practitioner to prevent progression of the thrombosis. This way, patients did not need to visit the emergency department right away. This pathway was safe, efficient, and resulted in high patient satisfaction.