Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a medical condition that affects approximately 1 in 1000 people at least once in their lifetime. DVT is characterized by the formation of a blood clot or thrombus in the major veins of the legs or arms which can impede normal blood flow. DVT can also result in pulmonary embolism (PE), a serious condition, in which a clot fragment breaks off and travels to the lungs.
DVT is caused due to diseased veins with weakened valves which cause blood to flow backward and to pool in the veins and can lead to a host of additional complications.
Risk Factors for DVT
- Long periods of inactivity
- Trauma or injury
- Major surgery
- Narrowed veins
- Pregnancy
- Oral contraceptives
- Blood clotting disorders
- Obesity
- Family history of DVT
What Are the Symptoms of DVT?
- Swollen, painful arms or legs.
- Discoloration or redness of the skin.
- Skin ulceration which may occur with chronic DVT.
- Shortness of breath or chest pain in cases of pulmonary embolism.
How Is DVT Diagnosed?
- Ultrasound: This is a common non-invasive test for diagnosing acute DVT.
- Blood tests: DVT causes elevated D-dimer levels to be detected in the blood.
- Other: At times, specialized imaging techniques such as venography or CT may be needed in cases of extensive, centralized DVT.
Acute vs. Chronic DVT
A blood clot or thrombus that is less than two weeks old is characterized as acute DVT. Chronic DVT, on the other hand, is caused when a blood clot or thrombus is left untreated for several weeks leading to it becoming fibrotic and scarring the involved veins. This can obstruct blood flow back to the heart leading to complications.
What Are DVT Treatment Options?
- Blood thinners: These are commonly used medications that prevent further clotting and prescribed in the form of injectables or pills.
- Thrombolysis/ thrombectomy: For DVT in larger, deeper veins, medication or surgery can be prescribed to remove clots and to restore normal flow.
- Vena cava filter: For situations where blood thinners are ineffective, temporary filters are placed to prevent large blood clots from passing to the lungs.
- Compression stockings: These medical-grade stockings are used to improve circulation and to minimize swelling caused due to DVT.
- Venous revascularization: In the case of severe symptoms due to chronic DVT, angioplasty and stents may be needed to reopen larger, critical veins.
Preventing DVT
To prevent DVT, avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time, exercise regularly, and make healthy lifestyle changes.