Venous thromboembolism: An overview

•Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease that includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).•VTE is the third most common cardiovascular illness after acute coronary syndrome.•The incidence of PE in the United States is estimated to be 1 case per 1,000 people per year.•Rudolf Virchow described the pathophysiology of DVT in 1846.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease that includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). It is a common, lethal disorder that affects both hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients. PE and DVT are 2 clinical presentations of VTE and share the same predisposing factors. In most cases, PE is a consequence of DVT. This article discusses the predisposing factors, prevalence, and individuals who are at risk of developing this often life-threatening disease.