Friday 15 June 2012

Implementing a tool to identify risk for venous thromboembolism in cancer patients

Clinical trial summary: Cancer increases the risk of deep vein blood clots and clots traveling to the lungs (emboli) which cause morbidity (leg swelling, pain, and shortness of breath), sudden death, delays cancer treatment, and decreases cancer survival by 66% compared to similar cancer patients without blood clots. Blood thinners may prevent clots but major bleeding is also a problem, so preventive therapies are not used routinely. Identifying patients at highest risk for clots is critical. A tool exists but it has not been used outside of research. Study is proposed to determine how to apply this tool in clinical practice and test if it works. Read more here.

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