Deep vein thrombosis
Doctor visit mandatory
With thrombosis, a blood clot (thrombus) blocks a blood vessel, causing only a little blood to flow through the vessel. Therefore, you must consult your doctor in case of any suspicion of deep vein thrombosis.Blood clots form primarily in the veins of the legs and pelvis. These blood vessels collect the blood from the feet, the legs, and the pelvis and transport it back to the heart. A deep vein thrombosis must be treated by a doctor immediately.
The risk of a pulmonary embolism occurring is particularly high if the deep veins of the leg are affected. A thrombus in the affected vein becomes dislodged and is swept into the lung by the blood flow, where it can block a vessel. In contrast, if this happens in a superficial vein in the leg, the clot must first move in the direction of the deep leg veins, which is less risky.
- Aching, dragging pain
- Redness or blue discoloration of the skin
- A feeling of tension and swelling
- the blood's flow rate slows down, for example, during confinement to bed or on long-haul flights
- the walls of the blood vessel have changed
- the blood has a high clotting susceptibility.
Who has a higher risk of suffering a deep vein thrombosis?
- pre-existing venous disease
- coagulation disorder
- Birth control pill usage
- pregnancy
- smoking
- overweight
- operations
- confinement to bed
- unusual physical exertion
How you can prevent deep vein thrombosis (thrombosis prophylaxis)
Your doctor decides on the type of medication, the dosage, the dosage form, and the treatment period.The objective of all physical measures is to improve venous return flow. There are various ways and means of achieving this objective:
- Medical thrombosis prophylaxis stockings (standardized compression)
- Circular bandaging (non-standardized compression)
- Lower leg, a wrap-around compression system
Further examples of physical prophylactic measures are
early mobilization, mobilization treatment, and elevation of the legs.
Your contact in case of deep vein thrombosis
- General practitioner
- Vein specialist
- Attending physician and nursing staff if hospitalized
How is a deep vein thrombosis treated?
Many patients do not notice severe thromboses at first. This is particularly dangerous because the blood clot that has precipitated the deep vein thrombosis can become dislodged again. If it reaches the lung, it can cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.Treatment gives the highest priority to:
- stopping the thrombosis growing
- removing the thrombosis
- preventing a pulmonary embolism
- preventing post-thrombotic syndrome (permanent damage to the venous valves).
The treatment strategy includes:
- Basic measures, such as correct positioning or mobilization and compression therapy
- Medication to make the blood thinner, such as heparin or Marcumar
- Thrombolysis to break down the blood clot (thrombus)
- Possibly an operation to remove the clot