Upper extremity deep venous thrombosis: reassessing the risk for subsequent pulmonary embolism.

Background: Although the incidence of upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) diagnoses has increased, anticoagulation therapy for UEDVT remains inconsistent and of variable duration. This study sought to analyze our institution's current treatment practices for UEDVT and assess the risk for subsequent pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Between April 2005 and July 2007, 200 consecutively encountered patients with UEDVTs were identified in the Peripheral Vascular Laboratory.