Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body, such as the lower leg, thigh, or pelvic region. Blood clots occur when blood abnormally thickens and clumps together, blocking off normal blood flow back to the heart.

Symptoms of DVT include warmth and tenderness over affected area, pain or swelling in the part of the body affected, and redness of the skin over the affected area. Only about half of the people who have DVT have signs and symptoms.

DVT can be caused by physical, chemical, or biological factors. Such factors may include surgery, serious injuries, inflammation, and immune responses. Inherited conditions such as factor V Leiden may cause blood to be more likely to clot.Obesity and smoking are risk factors that increase the likelihood of DVT as well.

The goals of treating DVT are to prevent the blood clot from getting bigger or breaking off and moving to the lungs, as well as reduce chances of having another blood clot. Anticoagulants are used to prevent the clots from becoming bigger (enoxaparin, dalteparin, fondaparinux, warfarin). Thrombolytics are used to quickly dissolve large blood clots that cause severe symptoms. Because thrombolytics can cause sudden bleeding, they're used only in life-threatening situations. Graduated compression stockings can reduce leg swelling caused by a blood clot. 

Blood clots can form in your body's deep veins if you:

• Have damaged your vein which can be caused by physical, chemical, or biological factors. Such factors may include surgery, serious injuries, inflammation, and immune responses.
• Are on bed rest or not being able to move for long periods of time. This may occur after surgery or if you are traveling for a long time.
• Have an inherited conditions such as factor V Leiden. In this case, your blood is thicker or more likely to clot than normal.
• Take hormone therapy or birth control pills.
• Have had recent surgery (most commonly hip, knee, or female pelvic surgery).

The risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include:

• A history of DVT
• Injury to a deep vein from surgery, a broken bone, or other trauma
• Pregnancy and the first 6 weeks after giving birth
• Recent or ongoing treatment for cancer
• A central venous catheter. This is a tube placed in a vein to allow easy access to the bloodstream for medical treatment
• Advancing age, especially older than 60 years old
• Being overweight or obese
• Smoking
• Having certain diseases or conditions such as a history of heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, lupus
• Family history of blood clots
• Fractures in the pelvis or legs

Most cases of DVT affect the legs, but DVT can happen in the upper body as well. Some factors that may increase risk for developing a DVT in the upper body includes:

• Having a long, thin flexible tube called a catheter inserted in your arm vein
• Having a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
• Having cancer
• Performing vigorous repetitive activities with your arms

Your risk for DVT increases if you have more than one of the risk factors listed above.

See a doctor urgently for swelling, pain, warmth, or redness in one leg, especially after surgery, injury, or long travel. Call 911 for sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood, which can mean a clot has traveled to the lungs.