Deep Vein Thrombosis
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Deep vein thrombosis or usually abbreviated as DVT is a formation of blood cloth in a deep vein in the body.Deep vein thrombosis very often occurs in the lower leg or thigh vein, but DVT may also occasionally develop in the arms or other parts of the body.
Complications
As a clot, deep vein thrombosis some times can loose or break off and becoming that what we called an embolus. It will travel along with blood stream through all parts of the body. When the clot travel to the lungs and get stuck there, it will blocks blood flow. That can be fatal,leads to death, this blockage is called pulmonary embolism.
Causes
There are three major factors that contribute to deep vein thrombosis:
- Injury or damage that occurs to the vein's inner lining. It can happen because of injury during surgery, injection, inflammation, serious injury.
- Slowing of blood flow can caused deep vein thrombosis. Usually occur after surgery or illness that need prolonged bed rest. A long distance travel in some cases may contribute to deep vein thrombosis.
- Some disorder that make blood thicker. Some oral contraceptives drug, estrogen therapy, cancer, smoking can contribute to deep vein thrombosis.
Most of people with deep vein thrombosis are not feeling any symptom at all. Common symptoms in deep vein thrombosis are swelling and pain of the leg : calf, ankle, tight or foot, increase warmth and discolored swelling skin. For the pulmonary embolism, pain with deep breathing, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood.
How to Diagnose
The doctor usually will assess your medical history include surgery, any medication that you have taken, your physical appearance ( especially your leg) and may refer you to do : blood test that called D-Dimmer (negative for unlikely DVT), venogram to show clots below the knee, and doppler ultrasound to show clots above the knee.
Treatment
Your doctor will prescribed you with anticoagulant, known as blood thinner medicines such as heparin and warfarin for the common treatments for DVT. It will easily decrease your blood ability to clot. Another medicine for treating DVT is thrombolytic, rarely use only to treating severe DVT because of it's high risk of causing bleeding.
Other type of deep vein treatment is inserting filter in the large vein between the heart and DVT affected area. It will prevent blood clots's debris in vein before they move in to the lungs.
Compression stockings, known as graduated compression stocking can relieve pain and reduce swelling, and prevent post thrombotic syndrome. The stocking must be use for at least a year after diagnosed with DVT.
Prevention
Visit your doctor fo routine medical check up, consult with your doctor before surgery, immediately ambulation after surgery, exercising your lower leg muscle during long trip (see travel tips to prevent DVT).
posted by faku @ 9:37 AM,
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