Clinical and noninvasive assessment of venous disease as related to pulmonary embolism.

Proper management of patients with venous disease requires recognition of the various syndromes and an accurate objective diagnosis. Unfortunately many physicians are unfamiliar with the different venous disorders and are unaware of the fallibility of the clinical diagnosis of these syndromes. This article reviews the six common venous conditions that collectively are more common than coronary or peripheral arterial disease. Acute and recurrent deep vein thrombosis, postthrombotic syndrome, superficial thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, and pulmonary embolism may all confront the physician regardless of his or her specialty. Clinical recognition and differentiation of these disorders along with appropriate use of objective, noninvasive isotopic and venographic studies should lead to accurate diagnosis and management of these venous syndromes. Such an approach will permit prompt and appropriate therapy for disabling and potentially life-threatening venous thromboembolism while avoiding unnecessary anticoagulation of patients with disorders mimicking venous disease.