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Thrombosis

Thrombosis
Alternative Names: 

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), Thrombophlebitis, Phlebitis, Venous thrombosis

Definition: 

Thrombosis is caused by a blood clot that forms in the body’s veins. Most of these clots form in the lower leg or thigh veins and are more likely to form when sitting or lying for long periods of time. If a thrombosis clot breaks off from the vein, it can travel throughout the body, causing a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke. However, most thromboses disappear on their own.

Symptoms: 

Common signs and symptoms of thrombosis:

  • Swelling in the affected leg, ankle, and foot
  • Pain in the leg that may be similar to a “charley horse”
  • Pain and swelling anywhere else a clot can form
  • Warmth and tenderness over the vein
  • Skin redness
Exams/Testing: 

Your doctor will ask you several questions and perform a physical exam to diagnose a thrombosis. If your skin shows signs of swelling, tenderness, and discoloration, you doctor may decide to run the following tests to confirm a thrombosis diagnosis:

  • Ultrasound
  • CT or MRI scan
  • Blood tests
  • Venography
Outlook/Prognosis: 

Treatment for a thrombosis requires preventative measures to ensure the clot does not get bigger or break loose and travel to the lungs. For patients who have had a thrombosis, it is important to prevent future clots from forming.

Your doctor may prescribe the following treatments for a thrombosis:

  • Blood thinners – Medications that decrease the body’s ability to clot blood.
  • Clotbusters – Patients who do not experience success with blood thinners, may be given a tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) through an intravenous line. This is usually only done in life-threatening situations because of the serious bleeding risk.
  • Filters – Patients who cannot take blood thinners may get a filter or an “umbrella” placed in the vena cava vein in their abdomen to catch a clot that may break off before traveling to the lungs.
  • Compression stockings – Socks worn up to the knees that compress the legs and reduce the risk of blood pooling and clotting. They help prevent swelling associated with thrombosis and should be worn for at least a year
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