Deep Vein Thrombosis Specialist

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one or more blood clots in your deep leg veins. Sometimes DVT occurs without causing any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they could include:

• Swelling in one leg
• Pain, cramping, or soreness
• Discolored or red skin
• Hot-feeling leg

These symptoms might be mild or could be very painful and make it hard to walk. If you have any symptoms of DVT, you should call Hamilton Vascular immediately.

Is DVT Dangerous?

If the blood clot stays in your leg, it isn’t particularly dangerous, although it could leave you with postphlebitic syndrome. This can cause edema, pain, and ulcers. However, the main danger of DVT is that it can lead to pulmonary embolism.

A pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening emergency that happens if one of the blood clots in your leg breaks off and travels around your body. It can reach the lungs and get stuck, causing a blockage that could be fatal.

Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:

• Sudden shortness of breath
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• Fainting
• Rapid pulse
• Coughing up blood

You’re likely to have chest pain or discomfort that gets worse when you cough or take a deep breath.

What Causes DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis can happen if your blood isn’t circulating properly or it’s clotting too readily. 

Restricted movement is a leading cause of DVT, for instance, if you’re on a long flight or drive, you’re bedridden for a long time, or you have surgery. If your calf muscles can’t contract, it affects circulation and can lead to blood clot formation.

Vein injuries can also cause DVT and certain medications make DVT more likely. Other risk factors include:

• Inherited blood-clotting disorder
• Pregnancy
• Being overweight or obese
• Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Using birth control pills
• Smoking
• Heart failure
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Family history of DVT

Your provider at Hamilton Vascular might use an ultrasound scan or venography to diagnose your DVT. Blood tests also indicate DVT if you have raised D-dimer levels.

How is DVT Treated?

Deep vein thrombosis treatment focuses on preventing any clots from breaking off and causing a pulmonary embolism. 

Blood-thinning medication or anticoagulant therapy can thin your blood and improve circulation. You could have an IV medication like heparin or oral medication like warfarin.

If your DVT is more serious or you have a pulmonary embolism, you might need to take thrombolytics, which are clot-busting medications.

If you can’t take blood thinners for any reason, your provider at Hamilton Vascular can insert a filter into the vena cava in your abdomen. A filter in this large vein stops any clots that do break off from traveling to your lungs.

For the long term, you may need to wear compression stockings to keep your blood circulating properly.

Find out more about DVT prevention and treatment by calling the Hamilton Vascular office nearest you or booking an appointment online today.