A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Management of Distal Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a relatively common clinical entity with significant morbidity and mortality. Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most significant complication of DVT and warrants immediate attention. The location of the DVT has a substantial impact on its ability to break off and travel to the pulmonary vasculature, causing a PE. Proximal DVT is more likely to cause a PE than a distal DVT. The widely accepted management for proximal DVT is anticoagulation. However, the management of distal DVT is unclear. This review article discusses factors that increase the risk of PE in patients with distal DVT, guidance on how to categorize patients into high and low-risk categories, and the recommended management for each category.