Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Article
- 2021-01-31
The signs and symptoms of VTE are not the same for everyone. Sometimes VTE does not cause symptoms until serious complications arise. In other cases, deep vein thrombosis causes swelling or discomfort near the blood clot. Pulmonary embolism can cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. Pulmonary embolism can be a life-threatening condition. Deep vein thrombosis can cause the following around the area of a blood clot: Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include: Less common signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism are a cough, with or without blood; feelings of fear or anxiety; feeling light-headed or fainting; and sweating. Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect you have signs or symptoms of VTE. Deep vein thrombosis should be taken seriously as it can lead to pulmonary embolism. Not everyone diagnosed with VTE needs treatment. In some cases, your doctor will detect a clot and decide to check it instead of treating it right away. Doctors usually recommend medications to treat VTE, but a vena cava filter can be used if you cannot use the medicine. Anticoagulants or blood thinners and thrombolytics are drugs commonly used to treat VTE. In some cases, including emergencies, a doctor may need to remove a thrombus using a catheter. In this procedure, a flexible tube is used to reach a blood clot in your lungs. The doctor can insert a tool into the tube to break up the clot or to deliver drugs through the tube. Usually, you will be given medication to put you to sleep before this procedure. Some mePeople who cannot use blood thinners may need a vena cava filter to treat their deep vein thrombosis. The filter is inserted into a large vein called the vena cava. The filter traps blood clots before they travel to the lungs, which prevents pulmonary embolism. However, the filter does not stop new blood clots from forming. A filter is usually not recommended if you have taken blood thinners.
The risk of developing VTE is highest after major surgery or serious injury, or if you have heart failure, cancer, or a heart attack. Swelling, redness, and pain are some of the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. A pulmonary embolism can cause sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. Sometimes VTE occurs without obvious signs. Medicines that help prevent further blood clots from forming or dissolve severe artery blockages are the main treatments for VTE. Without treatment, VTE can restrict or block blood flow and oxygen, which can damage the tissues or organs of the body. This can be especially serious in the case of a pulmonary embolism, which blocks blood flow to the lungs. If a blood clot is large or if there are many blood clots, a pulmonary embolism can cause death. Symptoms
Therapy
Medicines
Catheter assisted thrombus removal
Vena cava filter
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