VTE: Venous Thromboembolism

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in the United States. There are estimates that 350,000 to 650,000 people develop VTE every year and that up to 200,000 deaths occur from VTE every year, with most of those deaths related to hospitalizations. Studies show that VTE accounts for ten percent of hospital deaths, and may account for more deaths than any other single hospital acquired condition.

On September 18, 2008, Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson released The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism — 2008 at the Venous Disease Coalition's Second Annual Meeting. He urged all Americans to understand the risk factors and triggering events for developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).