What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot (thrombus) that forms in one or more of the veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep Vein Thrombosis can cause leg pain, but usually causes no symptoms. The clot is in the deep veins that cannot be seen from the outside. The clot completely or partially blocks the blood flow, leading to the accumulation of venous blood in the leg. Clot in veins that can be seen from the outside is called superficial vein thrombosis or phlebitis.
What Causes Deep Vein Thrombosis?
It is usually caused by damage to the inner wall of the vein. This damage may be due to physical, chemical or biological factors. Among the reasons, the most; surgery, severe trauma, inflammation, or immune system response. The blood flow gradually slows down and comes to a standstill. This is most common in patients who are on bed rest after surgery.
Sometimes, it may occur as a result of congenital coagulation tendency (such as Factor V Leiden).
What is the significance? ?
Although DVT is mostly painless, the most important aspect is that the clot breaks off from its location and causes death by obstructing the blood flow and pulmonary vessels. This condition is called pulmonary embolism. It is an emergency situation and if not treated promptly, it can lead to death.
Even if the clot dissolves over time in DVT, it often does not dissolve completely- it causes obstructions, stenoses in the vessel and deterioration of the valves. In this case, years after the clot has formed, the flow of venous blood, which must gradually return from the legs, is blocked, and the blood starts to pool in the veins and the pressure begins to increase. In this case, venous (venous) insufficiency, characterized by swelling, pain, discoloration and wounds (venous ulcer) in the wrist, develops as a result of damage to the tissues by the high blood pressure in the veins. gangrene develops. This condition, called Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens, is the only vein disorder that can cause the loss of the leg.
In such a case, consult your doctor without delay.
Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment:
After the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, if not intervened, a fatal complication of pulmonary clotting (Pulmonary embolism -PE) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) (Post-thrombophlebitic syndrome) and pulmonary hypertension may occur due to DVT in the long term. Therefore, treatment should be started as soon as the diagnosis is made. The target in treatment; to prevent clotting in the lung, to stop the progression of the existing clot, to restore flow in the vessels with clots, and to prevent the development of late complications such as post-thrombotic syndrome, clot recurrence, and pulmonary hypertension. Treatment options include blood thinning therapy (anticoagulant therapy), thrombolytic therapy, and inferior vena cava filters.
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