After deep vein thrombosis, which patients refer to vascular specialist for anticoagulant withdrawal? A Delphi study results between general practitioners and vascular specialists

作者：Zoubian Antonin; Bertoletti Laurent; Frappe Paul^*

来源：Presse Medicale, 2017, 46(5): E77-E83.

DOI：10.1016/j.lpm.2016.07.026

Aim > Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential serious common disease. Its management is, except in particular cases, on an outpatient basis. General practitioner's (GP) role usually includes the treatment risk/benefit reassessment. The treatment duration can vary and is difficult to define. The national and international guidelines do not explain clearly when to refer, or not, to a vascular specialist in order to stop treatment. The study's objective was to identify, for DVT, when a GP has to refer or not to a vascular specialist, for anticoagulant withdrawal.
Methods > A modified Delphi consensus study had been conducted by a panel of general practitioners and vascular specialists to identify, in which situations all clinicians agree that GPs can stop anticoagulation on their own and other situations in which GP have to refer to vascular specialists. Clinical situations and their respective duration of anticoagulant therapy have been identified by a DVT management guideline literature research.
Results > After two rounds, a strong agreement had been reached for each clinical situation. For 7 clinical situations, GPs were able to stop anticoagulation on their own, for 13 clinical situations; it was necessary to refer to a vascular specialist. We obtained a consensus regarding 3 modulating factors.
Discussion > Consensual situations, in which the general practitioners may be able to stop anticoagulation themselves, are isolated distal DVT without cancer and proximal DVT caused by a major reversible risk factor. Situations justifying a vascular medical advice were unprovoked DVT, DVT in a context of pregnancy, postpartum, cancer and proximal DVT in a context of hormonal therapy.

• 出版日期2017-5