ABSTRACT
According to Virchow’s triad, venous thrombosis occurs due to one of three factors: (1) decreased blood flow (stasis), (2) injury to the vessel wall, and (3) a hypercoagulable state. There are several independent risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE), including surgery, hospitalization, immobilization, prolonged bed rest, prolonged travel, smoking, obesity, age, use of oral contraceptives/hormones, pregnancy, varicose veins, and dehydration, among others. There are also medical conditions that can lead to VTE, including but not limited to: compression of the veins, recent trauma, cancer, infections, and heart disease.
