Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

While we see many people with deep vein thrombosis, successfully diagnosing and treating even the most complex cases, you’re more than a case to us. Our vascular experts take the time to get to know you to provide exactly the care you need for any potential deep vein thrombosis symptoms. And, our expertise and experience continually grows, giving you the latest, most effective care possible so you can live your life to the fullest.

What is deep vein thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot, or thrombus, forms in a vein deep inside your body, most commonly in the lower leg. These blood clots can form when your circulation slows down because of illness or long periods of inactivity.

The clot limits blood flow or blocks it completely, leading to deep vein thrombosis symptoms. And if the blood clot breaks loose and travels to your lungs, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism.

Symptoms & complications of deep vein thrombosis

While deep vein thrombosis symptoms may not always be present, the condition can rapidly escalate to a life-threatening situation. See your doctor right away if you have any deep vein thrombosis symptoms, including:

• Pain, inflammation or warmth in one of your legs
• Leg pain that gets worse over time
• Redness or discoloration of the skin on one leg
• Leg sores (ulcers) that are slow to heal
• Swelling in one leg or along a vein, or swelling that doesn’t go down when you elevate the leg
• Pain in the back of your calf muscle (injured muscles tend to occur in one side of your calf)
• Surface veins that become more visible
• Leg fatigue

Warning signs of a pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is extremely serious and happens when a blood clot travels from your deep vein to your lungs where it suddenly blocks blood flow.

Get medical help immediately or call 911 if you develop any of these symptoms:

• Sudden shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
• Blue-colored lips and fingers
• Feeling dizzy or faint
• Extremely rapid pulse
• Excessive sweating

What does deep vein thrombosis feel like?

Deep vein thrombosis may feel like a leg cramp initially. Unlike pain from a leg cramp, deep vein thrombosis pain is constant and gets worse over time. The leg that has a deep vein thrombosis may feel warm to the touch. You may also have pain centered in the back of your calf. If the pain in your calf was off center, it would be more likely to be an injured muscle.

Risk factors and what causes deep vein thrombosis

What causes deep vein thrombosis is sometimes related to lifestyle and habits. Deep vein thrombosis causes sometimes stem from inherited disorders such as autoimmune conditions or blood clotting disorders.

Deep vein thrombosis causes can be influenced by specific risk factors. You’re more likely to develop it if you:

• Are over 60
• Are overweight or obese
• Are pregnant or recently gave birth
• Are receiving certain cancer treatments
• Smoke
• Don’t move for a long time because you’re traveling, ill or recovering from surgery
• Have a central venous catheter to receive medication
• Have vein damage from surgery, autoimmune condition or recent injury, particularly a broken leg, hip or pelvis
• Have a family history of a blood-clotting disorder
• Take birth control pills or hormone therapy

Diagnosing deep vein thrombosis

To see if you have deep vein thrombosis, your doctor will begin with a thorough physical exam, review your health history and ask about your potential deep vein thrombosis symptoms. We may order diagnostic tests for you, too, such as:

• Blood test to look for a specific protein that blood clots produce
• Duplex ultrasound, the most common test for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis, which uses sound waves to create pictures of how blood flows through your veins
• Imaging that may include X-ray, CT scan or MRI

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Treating deep vein thrombosis

We believe in tailoring a treatment plan just for you. Your vascular specialist will work together with you to recommend things you can do at home, as well as medical options for managing deep vein thrombosis symptoms.

Your treatment may include:

• Elevating your feet whenever possible to prevent blood from pooling in your legs
• Wearing compression stockings to help reduce pain and swelling after deep vein thrombosis treatment and prevent blood from pooling in your legs
• Medications such as blood thinners (anticoagulants) to prevent blood clots from forming, getting larger or breaking off
• Catheter-directed thrombolysis, a procedure that uses a thin tube to direct medication into a blood clot to dissolve it. We may also do a balloon angioplasty or stent placement to repair the vein and prevent future clots.