Anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Once treatment is started, the question arises as to how long patients should be treated, which is the focus of this perspective. Duration of anticoagulant therapy for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Kearon C(1), Akl EA. Author information: (1)Department of Medicine, Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; and. The primary objectives for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) are to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE), reduce morbidity, and prevent or minimize the risk of developing the postthrombotic syndrome (PTS). DVT/PE Management with Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) Rivaroxaban is FDA approved for the acute treatment of DVT and PE and reduction in Introduction. Venous thromboembolic (VTE) disease, a spectrum of events that include acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT), asymptomatic DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE), is diagnosed in approximately 900,000 patients in the United States annually. 1, 2 Treatment strategies for patients with VTE are based upon the use of anticoagulants. There are other conditions with signs and symptoms similar to those of DVT and PE. For example, muscle injury, cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection), and inflammation (swelling) of veins that are just under the skin can mimic the signs and symptoms of DVT. The treatment of DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE) are similar. In both cases, the primary approach is anticoagulation. Other available treatments, which may be used in specific situations, include thrombolytic therapy or placing a filter in a major blood vessel (the inferior vena cava). Treatment goals for deep venous thrombosis include stopping clot propagation and preventing the recurrence of thrombus, the occurrence of pulmonary embolism, and the development of pulmonary. The length of “blood thinner” treatment in the case of leg DVT depends on where in the leg the DVT was – distal (below the knee) or proximal (behind the knee or in the thigh or groin). a) Distal DVT (i.e. below the knee, in the calf). What will treating DVT, a blood clot deep in a vein, do for you? It will prevent the clot from growing. You'll avoid long-lasting complications, such as leg pain and swelling.