The diagnosis of venous thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious and potentially fatal medical condition. Correct diagnosis and early treatment of VTE with anticoagulant drugs are critical steps in preventing further complications and recurrence. Evidence suggests that patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) should be managed with a diagnostic strategy that includes clinical pretest probability assessment, D-dimer test, and imaging. Clinical probability scoring, complemented by selective D-dimer testing, has become the recommended strategy for diagnosis. The reason is that overwhelming evidence suggests that patients with suspected VTE are better managed with a diagnostic strategy. If diagnostic algorithms are followed correctly, the chances of adverse events are extremely low (