Clinical problems in acute thromboembolism.

ical within the British press for some time. Dramatic headlines seem to imply that physicians frequently misdiagnose VTE with disastrous consequences. This conference explored different aspects of the difficult diagnoses of deep vein thromboses (DVT) and pulmonary emboli (PE) and how to avoid common pitfalls. The main message remains that while diagnostic tools and sensitive blood tests exist to aid junior doctors and nurse specialists, the need for assessment by a senior clinician remains crucial. The panel case discussions at the end of the day, a first for an RCP conference, were invaluable. There was no uniformity of opinion amongst experts in certain situations, illustrating the difficulties and problematic nature of VTE.