Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a complex condition that encompasses a range of interrelated but distinct clinical events. From deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to pulmonary embolism (PE) and the potential complications of IVC filters, managing VTE requires a comprehensive, integrated approach that can overcome the traditional treatment gaps. Yet, in most healthcare systems, the VTE workflow is fragmented, with breakdowns in communication and follow-up that can lead to missed opportunities for advanced treatments and, ultimately, result in patient harm.
This is where a comprehensive AI solution can make a real difference. AI technology isn’t just about helping to detect clots; it’s about transforming every aspect of how VTE is flagged, treated and monitored, revolutionizing care from the moment a clot forms to the management of follow-up interventions. Let’s break it down:
Starting With DVT: Addressing the Source
Most PEs originate from DVT. While DVT itself is not always life-threatening, the real danger comes when a clot travels to the lungs. The breakdown in care can begin early in the process–after a DVT is found, the challenge lies in ensuring that the right treatment protocols are followed.
Often, technologists and physicians can easily identify a DVT using tools like venous Doppler, but once identified, the standard course of treatment–like anticoagulation therapy–isn’t always sufficient. For instance, what if a more advanced treatment could lead to a better long-term outcome? This is where traditional workflows tend to fail: not every clinician is aware of the full range of evolving treatment options, and sometimes, patients are put on anticoagulants and sent on their way with little follow-up.
A comprehensive AI solution fills this gap by ensuring the DVT is communicated to the VTE specialists, and providing immediate insight into the clot’s severity–whether it’s acute or chronic. Acute clots (ones that are less than two weeks old) can often be treated more aggressively, potentially preventing them from causing more serious issues, like a PE. With AI, technologists and physicians can leverage real-time data that informs decisions far beyond initial identification.
Pulmonary Embolism: Moving Into Life-Threatening Territory
While a DVT may be urgent, a PE is outright critical. Once a clot breaks free and travels to the lungs, the risk of life-threatening complications skyrockets. Current workflows involve a radiologist identifying the PE on a CT scan and alerting the ordering physician, but this process can often be delayed due to the overwhelming load of studies, especially in emergency departments.
An all-encompassing AI-powered VTE platform doesn’t just flag PEs in dedicated scans; it can also flag incidental findings in scans done for other reasons. With AI, these findings are immediately pushed to the entire care team, including specialists such as pulmonologists and PE Response Teams, ensuring a rapid, coordinated response. But it doesn’t stop there–AI integrates other (sometimes disparate) critical clinical data points that can inform the next best step such as oxygen saturation, RV strain and lab values, helping to stratify the severity of the PE and empowering clinicians to decide on an aggressive intervention or traditional care.
IVC Filters: Closing the Loop on Treatment
An often overlooked, but critical, component of VTE management is the use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. These devices are placed in patients who cannot tolerate anticoagulation therapy or have recurrent DVTs and are at high risk for PE. However, these filters are typically temporary, and the challenge lies in ensuring their timely removal. Unfortunately, many patients miss their follow-up appointments or move between care facilities. This is due to a variety of factors: patients not understanding the device needs to be removed in a timely fashion and/or inadequate follow-up from the clinical team due to manual processes that are prone to error. This often leads to filters staying in place far beyond their intended lifespan. This introduces risks like filter migration or fragmentation, which can, in extreme cases, lead to more severe complications, including open-heart surgery.
AI can solve this by automatically tracking IVC filter placements, whether from surgical or radiology reports, ensuring these patients are added to a patient management platform. The system not only tracks filters but can recognize if they’re retrievable or permanent, helping to identify when an intervention is necessary. By monitoring and alerting care teams about IVC filter removals, AI helps close the loop on VTE care, ensuring patients aren’t lost to follow-up.
The Whole Package: A Revolution in VTE Care
So, what does it mean to have a truly comprehensive AI solution for VTE? It means no part in the process is left behind. DVT, PE and IVC filters are all addressed within one integrated system that supports health systems, physicians and patients from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up. AI does more than identify clots–it assists in decision-making, speeds up intervention (when needed), reduces risk and, most importantly, can save lives.
By covering every base, AI effectively overhauls how VTE is approached.
This is how AI empowers healthcare professionals to tackle VTE from every angle–bottom-up, end-to-end.
Click here to learn more about Aidoc’s VTE Solutions.
