Plastic Surgery Articles

The Condition
Deep vein thrombosis (or DVT) is a term for blood clotting in a vein deep within the body. It is not an uncommon occurrence. According to the National Institutes for Health about half the people who develop DVT never develop any notable symptoms and are unaware that the clot is there.

The great majority of DVT clots develop in the leg. Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis vary, but often they include pain in the impacted area; swelling of the leg; and warmth in the area of the clot. Often the general discomfort in the area is misinterpreted initially as perhaps a pulled muscle or soreness from physical exertion. When it does not clear up in a day or two it becomes clear that some other physical malfunction is in play.

The Danger

The principal danger of DVT is that the clot will break loose and travel through the body. A loose clot is called an embolus; the principal danger is that the embolus will travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. That condition creates blockage of blood flow to the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Often, people are unaware of the DVT condition until it has developed into PE, or Pulmonary embolism.

The symptoms of PE include unusual shortness of breath; coughing up blood; and pain with deep breathing. At this point, anyone who has gone through the symptom cycle should consult a physician immediately.

The Diagnosis

Diagnosis of DVT may involve an ultrasound exam and/or a venography. The first test uses ultrasound waves to try and spotlight an unusual spot or growth in the path of a vein. The second uses radio-opaque dye that is injected into the vein and then followed with a series of x-rays to see if the dye will highlight a blockage in the vein. Once identified, the clot is monitored during treatment with the anticoagulants to be sure that it remains well attached to the vein wall and therefore is unlikely to travel.

The Treatment

Treatment for DVT generally involves introducing anticoagulants into the system intravenously. The goal is to stop the existing clot from growing, and also to try to counteract the formation of any future clots. Anticoagulants (also known as blood thinners) cannot reduce an existing clot, but they can help stop further growth. Generally, the body dissolves existing clots over time.

Once the diagnosis is made, your doctor can monitor the progress of the initial clot breaking up along with providing treatment to avoid additional clotting. Successful treatment may be only the first step, however. Avoiding future incidents may include turning to a more active lifestyle, loosing weight and attempting to avoid future weight
gain.

Who is At Risk

Parties at risk for DVT include people with a disorder that causes blood to thicken. This can be an inherited disorder, but it can also be created during the process of hormone replacement therapy, or during the use of birth control pills. Other causes include prolonged inactivity caused by illness or trauma. Pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of DVT; so can the use of a venous catheter such as you find in your arm often during a hospital stay

Perhaps the most pervasive risk factor for DVT is being overweight or obese. Extra weight combined with a sedentary lifestyle seems to be the chief contributor to deep vein thrombosis. The real risk with DVT is the chance that it will morph into a pulmonary embolism. If you have any of the symptoms described here, see your physician and stress that it has been an ongoing source of discomfort.

In some ways, deep vein thrombosis can be an early warning sign for a pulmonary embolism. Don’t ignore the symptoms and find yourself in an ER somewhere a year or two later, fighting PE and struggling to breathe.

Written by: bob