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Duration of Treatment

Duration of treatment

Clinical Condition Duration of Therapy
Calf DVT  precipitating factor*  6 weeks to 3 months
 Spontaneous 3 - 6 months
Proximal DVT precipitating factor* 3 - 6 months
 Spontaneous At least 6 months
Pulmonary Embolus 6 months
Recurrent DVTs or PEs (more than 2) Lifelong
Muscular vein thrombosis Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories for 7 days
Rescan if symptoms unchanged or worse
Consider Clexane 1mg/kg for 10 days
Superficial thrombophlebitis Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories for 2 weeks
Consider Clexane 1mg/kg for 10 days if symptoms do not settle and there is a significant clot burden

There is an incraesing trend to recommend longterm treatment to patients who have had a spontaneous DVT or PE as the risk of a recurence is approximately 3 to 5% per annum, with a 10 year risk of approximately 40%. Therefore if the patient has a low risk of bleeding consider longterm treatment after a single spontaneous event.