Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
What it is?
Deep veins are large veins that run close to major arteries and have a more or less direct line of flow back to the heart and lungs. A blood clot within a deep vein is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
What are the symptoms?
Deep vein thrombosis of a limb can present with pain, swelling, warmth and discoloration of the affected limb. Small clots can be silent. The most serious complication of pulmonary embolism occurs when the clot breaks off from the affected deep vein and travels to the lung. This can present with chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, coughing or collapse.
How is it diagnosed?
Most DVTs can be diagnosed with an ultrasound scan. Clots affecting abdominal or chest veins and pulmonary embolism can be diagnosed on a contrast CT scan.
How is it treated?
Treatment of a DVT generally consists of thinning the blood (anticoagulation). This prevents additional clotting while naturally occurring clot busters in the body slowly break the existing clot down. In some instances when the clot burden is large, drugs can be infused into the clot to assist in busting the clot.
Deep veins are large veins that run close to major arteries and have a more or less direct line of flow back to the heart and lungs. A blood clot within a deep vein is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
What are the symptoms?
Deep vein thrombosis of a limb can present with pain, swelling, warmth and discoloration of the affected limb. Small clots can be silent. The most serious complication of pulmonary embolism occurs when the clot breaks off from the affected deep vein and travels to the lung. This can present with chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, coughing or collapse.
How is it diagnosed?
Most DVTs can be diagnosed with an ultrasound scan. Clots affecting abdominal or chest veins and pulmonary embolism can be diagnosed on a contrast CT scan.
How is it treated?
Treatment of a DVT generally consists of thinning the blood (anticoagulation). This prevents additional clotting while naturally occurring clot busters in the body slowly break the existing clot down. In some instances when the clot burden is large, drugs can be infused into the clot to assist in busting the clot.