Pediatric deep venous thrombosis

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the pediatric population is rare, occurring in about 10 to 14 out of 10,000 pediatric admissions annually, but with serious consequences such as pulmonary embolism and/or post-thrombotic syndrome. There is a dearth of surgical literature regarding this entity, its pathophysiology, its treatment and its long-term sequelae. Methods: An extensive search of available surgical and medical literature in Medline, PubMed was obtained by searching terms synonymous with pediatric DVT. Case reports and opinion articles were excluded. Ongoing clinical trials were culled from clinicaltrial.gov by searching for pediatric DVT studies. Institutional guidelines, where available, were included in this summary. Results: We provide a clinically relevant summary with the aims of improving prevention, early identification and treatment of pediatric DVT. Conclusions: Although rare and frequently with subtle presentations, pediatric DVT can be serious. Early identification and treatment can be instrumental in limiting sequelae and in improving outcomes for these patients.