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Introduction The post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a form of chronic venous insufficiency due to a prior ipsilateral deep venous thrombosis (DVT). This is a frequent complication that develops in 20%–50% of patients after a proximal DVT and is associated with significant healthcare, economic and societal consequences. In the absence of effective and well-tolerated treatment options for established PTS, effective preventative measures are needed. Anticoagulation itself reduces the risk of PTS, and low-molecular-weight heparin may reduce this further through anti-inflammatory properties targeting the initial acute inflammatory phase of DVT.Methods and analysis The Tinzaparin Lead-In to Prevent the Post-Thrombotic syndrome pilot trial is an investigator-initiated, multicentre, open-label assessor-blinded trial that will randomise patients with first acute symptomatic common femoral or iliac DVT to receive either a 3-week lead-in course of tinzaparin, followed by rivaroxaban (experimental arm) or rivaroxaban alone (control arm). Its primary objectives are to assess: (1) proportion of PTS at 6 months using the Villalta scale and (2) study feasibility, which consists of (a) the proportion of screened patients eligible for the study, (2) the proportion of eligible patients recruited and (c) the proportion of recruited patients adherent to treatment (defined as at least 80% of drug taken). This study will determine the feasibility of a subsequent larger definitive trial. Secondary outcomes include change of quality of life scores, PTS severity, global improvement, patient satisfaction, bleeding, recurrent venous thromboembolism, leg pain, death and lost to follow-up. Target recruitment will be a total of 60 participants, recruited at 5–6 centres.Ethics and dissemination Primary ethics approval was received from the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center Research Ethics Board (approval ID 3315). Results of the study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed presentation at scientific conferences and open access publication.Trial registration number NCT04794569.

Background Excessive use of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) to investigate pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department (ED) contributes to adverse patient outcomes. Non-invasive D-dimer testing, in the context of a clinical algorithm, may help decrease unnecessary imaging but this has not been widely implemented in Canadian EDs.Aim To improve the diagnostic yield of CTPA for PE by 5% (absolute) within 12 months of implementing the YEARS algorithm.Measures and design Single centre study of all ED patients >18 years investigated for PE with D-dimer and/or CTPA between February 2021 and January 2022. Primary and secondary outcomes were the diagnostic yield of CTPA and frequency of CTPA ordered compared with baseline. Process measures included the percentage of D-dimer tests ordered with CTPA and CTPAs ordered with D-dimers

Abstract Background Distal deep vein thrombosis (infrapopliteal DVT without proximal DVT or pulmonary embolism [PE]) generally shares the same triggering risks factors as proximal DVT. In women of childbearing age, a frequent triggering risk factor is the use of combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills. However, data on the epidemiology and long‐term outcomes of COC‐associated distal DVT are lacking. Objectives To assess the epidemiology and long‐term outcomes of COC‐associated distal DVT. Methods Using data from the OPTIMEV (Optimisation de l’Interrogatoire dans l’évaluation du risque thrombo‐Embolique Veineux [Optimization of Interrogation in the Assessment of Thromboembolic Venous Risk]) multicenter cohort study of patients with objectively confirmed venous thromboembolism (VTE) enrolled between 2004 and 2006, we assessed in nonpregnant or postpartum women aged ≤ 50 years without cancer or history of VTE (i) proportion of COC‐associated distal DVTs among women with distal DVTs and among women with COC‐associated VTEs (distal DVT, proximal DVT, or PE) and (ii) 3‐year incidence of death, bleeding, and VTE recurrence. Results COC‐associated distal DVTs (n = 54) represented 43.9% of all distal DVTs and 51.9% of COC‐associated VTEs. All but one woman with a COC‐associated distal DVT received therapeutic anticoagulation for a median of 3 months. At 3‐year follow‐up, all women with COC‐associated distal DVTs were alive, and none had bled during anticoagulant treatment or had experienced a DVT or PE recurrence after stopping anticoagulants. Similar results were found in patients with COC‐associated proximal DVT and PE: The VTE recurrence rate was 1.7% per patient‐year (PY) and 0% PY, respectively, and there were no deaths or major bleeds in either group. Conclusions Distal DVT was the most frequent clinical presentation of COC‐associated VTE and had similarly favorable long‐term outcomes as other COC‐associated VTE.

Abstract Introduction Elastic compression stockings (ECSs) are used to treat symptoms of venous insufficiency. However, lack of patient compliance can limit their effectiveness. In a secondary analysis of the SOX Trial, a randomized trial of active vs. placebo ECSs worn for 2 years to prevent postthrombotic syndrome after deep vein thrombosis, we aimed to describe patient‐reported reasons for nondaily use of ECS and to identify predictors of noncompliance during follow‐up. Methods At each follow‐up visit of the SOX Trial, patients were asked how many days per week they wore study stockings, and if not worn daily, to specify the reason(s). Reasons for nondaily use of ECSs were tabulated. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to identify predictors of stocking noncompliance during follow‐up (defined as use

Abstract Introduction Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a form of secondary chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) that occurs after deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Effective treatments for PTS are lacking. Micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) is a venoactive drug used in the treatment of CVI. Objective To determine whether MPFF is a good candidate to explore as a therapeutic agent for PTS. Methods We performed a narrative review in which we identified 14 systematic reviews, 33 randomized controlled trials, and 19 observational studies that discussed the use of MPFF in CVI, as well as studies that reported on the mechanistic action of MPFF in relation to the pathophysiology of PTS. Results MPFF targets a number of pathophysiologic components of PTS. Based on animal models and human studies investigating objective vascular and lymphatic measures, MPFF promotes venous recanalization after DVT, decreases venous remodeling and reflux, inhibits inflammatory processes, improves venous tone and stasis, improves lymphatic circulation, improves capillary hyperpermeability, and decreases tissue hypoxia. Furthermore, MPFF shows promise in improving clinical manifestations, quality of life, and objective venous parameters of CVI. Studies suggest good patient acceptability and tolerability with the use of MPFF in CVI. Conclusion MPFF is a good candidate to explore as a potential therapy for PTS. Confirmatory high‐quality studies are still needed to reinforce the evidence supporting the use of MPFF in CVI. Double‐blind randomized controlled trials with clinical endpoints are needed to assess the clinical efficacy of MPFF in the treatment of PTS.

Introduction After deep vein thrombosis, up to 50% of patients develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). PTS is a chronic condition that reduces quality of life (QOL). Cornerstones of PTS treatment include the use of elastic compression stockings but this treatment is usually incompletely effective and is burdensome. Venoactive drugs have been reported to be effective to treat chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). However, the level of evidence supporting their use in CVI in general and in PTS in particular is low.Methods and analysis The MUFFIN-PTS trial is an academic, publically funded, multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy of micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF, Venixxa), a venoactive drug, to treat PTS. Eighty-six patients with PTS (Villalta score (VS) ≥5) and experiencing at least two of the following PTS manifestations among daily leg heaviness, cramps, pain or oedema will be randomised to receive 1000 mg of oral MPFF or a similar appearing placebo for 6 months, in addition to their usual PTS treatment. Total study follow-up will be 9 months, with visits at inclusion/baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months. Primary outcome is the proportion of patients with improvement in VS in each group, where improvement is defined as a decrease of at least 30% in VS or a VS

After a proximal deep-vein thrombosis (P-DVT), the risk of diagnosis of a previously unsuspected cancer is high. Isolated distal DVT (iD-DVT; i.e. infra-popliteal DVT without pulmonary embolism [PE]) and isolated superficial-vein thrombosis (iSVT; i.e. without concomitant DVT and PE) are at least as frequent as P-DVT but their association with subsequent cancer is uncertain. We exploited data from the OPTIMEV prospective, observational, multicentre study to i) compare the risk of subsequent cancer three years after a first objectively confirmed iSVT, iD-DVT and iP-DVT in patients without a prior history of cancer or of venous thromboembolism, ii) assess predictors of subsequent cancer in cases of iD-DVT. The overall cumulative rates of cancer among the 304 patients with iSVT, 536 patients with iD-DVT, and 327 patients with iP-DVT were similar (3.4% 95% confidence interval [1.8-6.2], 3.9% [2.5-5.9] and 3.9% [2.3-6.8], respectively), regardless of whether the index venous thromboembolic event was unprovoked or associated with a major transient risk factor. Neither anatomical (muscular vs deep-calf DVT) nor ultrasound scan characteristics (number of thrombosed veins, clot diameter under compression) seemed strongly associated with the risk of cancer in cases of iD-DVT. In patients managed in routine practice, all the different clinical expressions of lower limb venous thromboembolism are associated with a similar risk of subsequent cancer. From a clinical practice point of view, this suggests that cancer screening, without discussing the necessity, or not, of such screening, should not differ between a deep-proximal, deep-distal or superficial location of thrombosis.