Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) facts
Introduction to deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Arteries have thin muscles within their walls to be able to withstand the pressure of the heart pumping blood to the far reaches of the body. Veins don't have a significant muscle lining, and there is nothing pumping blood back to the heart except physiology. Blood returns to the heart because the body's large muscles squeeze the veins as they contract in their normal activity of moving the body. The normal activities of moving the body returns the blood back to the heart.
There are two types of veins in the leg; superficial veins and deep veins. Superficial veins lie just below the skin and are easily seen on the surface. Deep veins, as their name implies, are located deep within the muscles of the leg. Blood flows from the superficial veins into the deep venous system through small perforator veins. Superficial and perforator veins have one-way valves within them that allow blood to flow only in the direction of the heart when the veins are squeezed.
A blood clot (thrombus) in the deep venous system of the leg is not dangerous in itself. The situation becomes life-threatening when a piece of the blood clot breaks off (embolus, pleural=emboli), travels downstream through the heart into the pulmonary circulation system, and becomes lodged in the lung. Diagnosis and treatment of a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is meant to prevent pulmonary embolism.
Clots in the superficial veins do not pose a danger of causing pulmonary emboli because the perforator vein valves act as a sieve to prevent clots from entering the deep venous system. They are usually not at risk of causing pulmonary embolism.
Picture of how red blood cells and platelets form a blood clotWhat are the causes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Blood is meant to flow. If it becomes stagnant, there is a potential for it to clot. The blood in veins constantly forms microscopic clots that are routinely broken down by the body. If the balance of clot formation and resolution is altered, significant clotting can occur. A thrombus can form if one or a combination of the following situations is present.
ImmobilityWhat are the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Superficial thrombophlebitis symptomsBlood clots in the superficial vein system most often occur due to trauma to the vein which causes a small blood clot to form. Inflammation of the vein and surrounding skin causes the symptoms of any other type of inflammation including:
Often the affected vein can be palpated (felt) as a firm, thickened cord. There may be inflammation that follows the course of part of the vein.
Although there is inflammation, there is no infection.
Varicosities can predispose to superficial thrombophlebitis. This occurs when the valves of the larger veins in the superficial system fail (the greater and lesser saphenous veins), allowing blood to back up and cause the veins to swell and become distorted or tortuous. The valves fail when veins lose their elasticity and stretch. This can be due to age, prolonged standing, obesity, pregnancy, and genetic factors.
Deep venous thrombosis symptomsThe symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are related to obstruction of blood returning to the heart and causing a backup of blood in the leg. Classically, symptoms include:
Not all of these symptoms have to occur. One, all, or none may be present with a deep vein thrombosis. The symptoms may mimic an infection or cellulitis of the leg.
Historically, healthcare professionals would try to elicit a couple of clinical findings to make a diagnosis. Dorsiflexion of the foot (pulling the toes towards the nose, or Homans' sign) and Pratt's sign (squeezing the calf to produce pain), have not been found effective in making a diagnosis.
When should I seek medical care for deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
How is deep vein thrombosis diagnosed (DVT)?
The diagnosis of superficial thrombophlebitis is often made by the health care professional at the bedside of the patient, based upon the physical examination.
UltrasoundD-dimer is a blood test that may be used as a screening test to determine if a blood clot exists. D-dimer is a chemical that is produced when a blood clot in the body gradually dissolves. The test is used as a positive or negative indicator. If the result is negative, then no blood clot exists. If the D-dimer test is positive, it does not necessarily mean that a deep vein thrombosis is present since many situations will have an expected positive result (for example, from surgery, a fall, or pregnancy). For that reason, D-dimer testing must be used selectively.
Other tests for DVTWhat are the causes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Blood is meant to flow. If it becomes stagnant, there is a potential for it to clot. The blood in veins constantly forms microscopic clots that are routinely broken down by the body. If the balance of clot formation and resolution is altered, significant clotting can occur. A thrombus can form if one or a combination of the following situations is present.
ImmobilityWhat are the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Superficial thrombophlebitis symptomsBlood clots in the superficial vein system most often occur due to trauma to the vein which causes a small blood clot to form. Inflammation of the vein and surrounding skin causes the symptoms of any other type of inflammation including:
Often the affected vein can be palpated (felt) as a firm, thickened cord. There may be inflammation that follows the course of part of the vein.
Although there is inflammation, there is no infection.
Varicosities can predispose to superficial thrombophlebitis. This occurs when the valves of the larger veins in the superficial system fail (the greater and lesser saphenous veins), allowing blood to back up and cause the veins to swell and become distorted or tortuous. The valves fail when veins lose their elasticity and stretch. This can be due to age, prolonged standing, obesity, pregnancy, and genetic factors.
Deep venous thrombosis symptomsThe symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are related to obstruction of blood returning to the heart and causing a backup of blood in the leg. Classically, symptoms include:
Not all of these symptoms have to occur. One, all, or none may be present with a deep vein thrombosis. The symptoms may mimic an infection or cellulitis of the leg.
Historically, healthcare professionals would try to elicit a couple of clinical findings to make a diagnosis. Dorsiflexion of the foot (pulling the toes towards the nose, or Homans' sign) and Pratt's sign (squeezing the calf to produce pain), have not been found effective in making a diagnosis.
When should I seek medical care for deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
How is deep vein thrombosis diagnosed (DVT)?
The diagnosis of superficial thrombophlebitis is often made by the health care professional at the bedside of the patient, based upon the physical examination.
UltrasoundD-dimer is a blood test that may be used as a screening test to determine if a blood clot exists. D-dimer is a chemical that is produced when a blood clot in the body gradually dissolves. The test is used as a positive or negative indicator. If the result is negative, then no blood clot exists. If the D-dimer test is positive, it does not necessarily mean that a deep vein thrombosis is present since many situations will have an expected positive result (for example, from surgery, a fall, or pregnancy). For that reason, D-dimer testing must be used selectively.
Other tests for DVTWhat is the treatment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Superficial thrombophlebitis treatmentTreatment for superficial blood clots is symptomatic with:
If the thrombophlebitis occurs near the groin where the superficial and deep systems join together, there is potential that the thrombus could extend into the deep venous system. These patients may require anticoagulation or blood thinning therapy (see below).
Deep venous thrombosis treatmentThe recommended length of treatment for an uncomplicated DVT is 3 months. Depending upon the patient's situation, a longer duration of anticoagulation may be required.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) medications
Anticoagulation prevents further growth of the blood clot and prevents it from forming an embolus that can travel to the lung. The body has a complex mechanism to form blood clots to help repair blood vessel damage. There is a clotting cascade with numerous blood factors that have to be activated for a clot to form.
Warfarin (Coumadin) is one type of anti-coagulation medication that and acts as a Vitamin K antagonist, blocking blood clotting factors II, VII, IX and X. It may be prescribed immediately after diagnosis, but unfortunately it takes a week or more for the blood to be appropriately thinned with warfarin. Therefore, low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin [Lovenox)] is administered at the same time. It thins the blood via a different mechanism and is used as a bridge therapy until the warfarin has reached its therapeutic level. Enoxaparin injections can be given on an outpatient basis. For those patients who have contraindications to the use of enoxaparin (for example, kidney failure does not allow the drug to be appropriately metabolized), intravenous heparin can be used as the first step in association with warfarin. This requires admission to the hospital. The dosage of warfarin is monitored by blood tests measuring the prothrombin time or INR (international normalized ratio).
Another option is the prescription of medications that inhibit blood clotting factor X. These act almost immediately to thin the blood, and do not need the two step approach described above of warfarin and heparin. These medications do not need blood tests to monitor dosing. The medications that have been approved for deep vein thrombosis treatment include:
The decision to prescribe a type of anticoagulation medication (Vitamin K antagonist v. Factor X inhibitor) depends upon the patient's situation. Patients who take these medications are at risk for bleeding. At present there is no antidote approved in the United States to reverse the effects of the Factor X inhibitors, should the need arise. However, there are reversal strategies available for warfarin and heparin.
Some patients may have contraindications to anticoagulation therapy, for example a patient with bleeding in the brain, major trauma, or recent significant surgery. An alternative may be to place a filter in the inferior vena cava (the major vein that collects blood from both legs) to prevent emboli, should they arise, from reaching the heart and lungs. These filters may be effective but also may be the source of new clot formation.
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