Deep venous thrombosis (DVT, venous blood clot)

About Deep venous thrombosis (DVT, venous blood clot)

A blood clot embedded in one of the major deep veins of the legs, arms or pelvis. The clot blocks blood flow through these veins preventing blood from being brought back to the heart. Smoking, birth control pills, prolonged sitting, cancer, bed rest, giving birth, intravenous catheters, and recent fractures increase the risk of DVT. If the blood clot breaks away it can travel through the heart and lodge in the pulmonary artery causing a life threatening disease named pulmonary embolus. Some patients have a hypercoagulable disorder that causes them to form more blood clots. Common hypercoagulable states include factor V Leiden, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, and antithrombin III deficiency.

Symptoms

Leg pain, leg swelling, groin pain, leg tenderness, leg discoloration, arm pain, arm swelling, arm discoloration.

Tests & Diagnostics

A history and physical exam will be performed. A D-dimer, a blood test, is most useful in helping rule out a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A noninvasive vascular assessment (NIVA) is done to diagnose the DVT. Blood tests to look for a hypercoagulable state may be performed.

Common tests: D-Dimer.

Path 3 — Prescription Options

Prescription medications

Conventional treatment summary

Anticoagulants are given usually initially given as an injection (such as enoxaparin or heparin) and/or orally (warfarin). The anticoagulant effects of the warfarin are measured and when the amount of blood thinning is adequate the enoxaparin is discontinued. Large blood clots may be removed from the vein either surgically or with medication delivered directly into the affected vein. For additional information contact the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Health Information Center at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov or call (301)592-8573.

Medical specialties

Internal Medicine · Pediatrics · Family Practice · Hematology and Oncology · Vascular and Interventional Radiology · Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Deep venous thrombosis (DVT, venous blood clot).