Duration Of Treatment

Clinical Condition Duration of Therapy
Calf DVT Precipitating Factor  6 weeks to 3 months
Spontaneous 3  months
Proximal DVT Precipitating Factor 3  months
Spontaneous 3 – 6 months
Pulmonary Embolus 3 – 6 months
Recurrent DVTs or PEs (more than 2) Lifelong
Muscular vein thrombosis Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories for 2 weeks
Consider Enoxaparin 1mg/kg for 10 days if symptoms do not settle and there is a significant clot burden
Superficial thrombophlebitis Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories for 2 weeks
Consider Enoxaparin 1mg/kg for 10 days if symptoms do not settle and there is a significant clot burden

There is an increasing trend to recommend long term treatment to patients who have had a spontaneous DVT or PE as the risk of a recurrence 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 long term treatment after a single spontaneous event.