Are doctors going to start putting people with dvt's on anticoagulants forever?

No: Only in cases of recurrent dvts and certain diseases that increase risk of clot formation/hypercoagulable status may need lifelong coumadin (warfarin).

No: Patients who develop DVT for a reason (immobility) are usually treated for 3-6 months. Blood clots to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) are usually treated longer (6 months - 1 year). Pt who develop DVT without an obvious need to be evaluated for hypercoaguable states that predispose them to clot. Certain dieases and recurrent dvt's make need lifelong anticoagulation.

No: There is good evidence that for a DVT that is provoked and from a temporary condition (i.e. Surgery and immobility), a short course of anticoagulation is good enough. Typically, the longer a person is on blood thinners, the less their chance of having another clot, but this must be weighed against the increase chance for bleeding. After a second clot, though, sometimes lifelong is better.