Deep Venous Thrombosis
Alternate Names : DVT, Economy Class Syndrome
What are the treatments for the condition?
Treatment of a deep venous thrombosis focuses on preventing a pulmonary
embolus. Bed rest and elevating the leg can help reduce the swelling and pain.
The person is often given an injection of a blood-thinning medicine. The
injection may be given through an IV or under the skin. These blood-thinning
medicines, such as heparin and enoxaparin, help prevent further growth of the
blood clot. After a few days of blood-thinning medicines by injection, the
person can be switched to pills. Warfarin is the most common blood-thinning
pill.
In some people, blood-thinning medicines cannot be used. For example, a person
may have a high risk of bleeding, a side effect of thinning the blood. In these
cases, a surgical procedure can be done. This involves inserting a filter in
one of the major veins of the body that leads to the heart. This filter catches
any clots that break off so they cannot get into the lungs and cause
death.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Heparin can cause bleeding and lower blood platelet counts, called
thrombocytopenia. Warfarin can also cause bleeding, which in rare cases is
fatal. Warfarin interferes with many other medicines. Surgery can cause
bleeding, infection, or allergic
reaction to
anesthesia.
What happens after treatment for the condition?
Most patients with a deep venous thrombosis will recover fully. When DVT is in
the pelvis or upper leg, warfarin is usually taken for at least 3 to 6 months.
DVT in the veins of the calf is usually treated with warfarin for at least 6
weeks.
In people who develop a second DVT, warfarin treatment is continued for life.
This long-term therapy is also used in people with underlying causes of DVT,
such as cancer or a
condition referred to as thick blood.
How is the condition monitored?
People with a history of deep venous thrombosis are told to avoid prolonged
periods of immobility. They also need to watch for the common symptoms of leg
pain and swelling. Individuals on blood-thinning medicines will have periodic
blood tests to monitor the thickness of their blood. Any new or worsening
symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
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