[Conclusions of consensus development conferences on the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism]

An education program for hospital physicians and family doctors including up to date knowledge on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism has been elaborated, chiefly within the framework of hospital consensus conferences. Postgraduate consensus meetings led by representatives of specialities interested in prophylaxis of venous thrombosis have been held in 64 hospitals all over the country during the years 1996 to 2002, with a total number of more than 10,000 doctors working in hospital or general practice. In contrast to descriptive reports offered so far on drugs, the aim was a comprehensive clinical review of the problem, according to the principle of "disease management". By this way not only new diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylactic methods were presented but we managed to shape a new attitude based on new pathophysiological findings. As a result of the conferences the incidence and mortality of venous thromboembolism has decreased both on hospital and national levels. The consensus meetings acting as local interdisciplinary postgraduate forums have been supported by the Hungarian Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society and the haemostasis workshops of the country (Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs, Szombathely). Shaping the principles and methods for prophylaxis and therapy of venous thromboembolism can be regarded as a model which can subsequently be adapted to the problems of arterial thrombosis as well.