2021 Update to the CHEST VTE Treatment Guidelines

Evidence published in the past 5 years supports a few new recommendations for venous thromboembolism management.

Sponsoring Organization: American College of Chest Physicians

Background

The ninth edition of the CHEST Clinical Practice Guidelines for managing venous thromboembolism (VTE) — published in 2012 and updated in 2016 — now has a second update, which addresses 14 clinical questions and offers 32 guidance statements for clinicians who manage patients with VTE. The 2012 guideline (Chest 2012; 141:Suppl:e419S and the 2016 update (NEJM JW Emerg Med Feb 2016 and Chest 2016; 149:315) both are publicly available.

Key Recommendations

Patients with isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism (PE): Rule out proximal deep venous thrombosis (e.g., with ultrasonography). If risk for recurrent VTE is low, surveillance is recommended over anticoagulation. If risk f…

Reviewing Author

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, MHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)