Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition wherein a blood clot develops in one of our "deep" veins, blocking the venous blood flow. Pieces of this blood clot may break off, travel with the blood stream and get lodged in the lung circulation. This is called pulmonary embolism and can be a life threatening condition. DVTs can occur anywhere in the body, but are most frequently found in the deep veins of the legs, thighs and pelvis.
Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) half of the times causes no symptoms. Sometimes, as pieces of clot break off, the first manifestation may be pulmonary embolism. The classic symptoms of DVT, when present, include:
Deep venous thrombosis symptoms are shared by many other conditions and diagnosis may be difficult, sometimes the first manifestation may even be the symptoms of pulmonary embolism. Depending on your medical history, your doctor will perform a thorough physical examination and order an imaging test of the veins of the affected leg to rule in (or rule out) DVT.
The goal of treatment is to primarily prevent the clot from growing, to ensure that it does not break off and lead to pulmonary embolism and to reduce the severity of long-term post-thrombotic syndrome.
Dr. Efthymios (Makis) Avgerinos is a Vascular Surgeon, Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in USA.
Efthymios D. Avgerinos, MD, PhD, FEBVS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center Pennsylvania, USA
E-mail: info@vascularhealth.gr
