Lead an independent pain free life
Putting a full-stop to your Deep Vein Thrombosis Problem
DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis refers to the blood clot formation in the deeper veins of the lower limb. The thrombosis may occur in the veins of the thighs, legs, and pelvis often. Although this condition is less prevalent when compared to other venous diseases, it is more fatal than the others.
DVT is found in 2-4 % of individuals per year which is less but the studies reveal that the fatality caused due to this disease is 30% within one month of its diagnosis. Considering this high fatality ratio, DVT should never be ignored and immediate steps need to be taken for its treatment.
Symptoms of DVT in Leg
-
Cramps and throbbing pain in leg around the calf.
-
Swelling in the leg
-
Redness and darkening of the skin around the painful part.
-
Warm temperature around the painful area.
-
Hardened and swollen veins that can be felt on touch.
If you notice such symptoms you should immediately visit a vascular specialist and opt for tests like a D-Dimer Blood Test, Duplex Ultrasound, Venography, or MRI to diagnose DVT and rule out the differential diagnosis like varicose veins and other lower limb circulatory diseases.
Pulmonary thromboembolism
It is a life threatening complication of DVT. The blood clot in the leg veins gets dislodged and travels through inferior vena cava to the artery of the lung. This can cause heart failure. The condition is called as pulmonary thromboembolism and it is highly fatal. The patients with pulmonary embolism present with shortness of breath, chest pain, blood in cough and can collapse immediately if the clot is massive.
The Minimally Invasive Treatment Options For DVT
Intravenous and/or oral anticoagulation,that is blood thinning medications form the mainstay of DVT treatment. A vascular interventional radiologist can perform minimally invasive treatments to remove the clots from the veins and prevent the complications of DVT.
Acute DVT treatments
In the initial period of symptoms (approximately first 2 to 3 weeks), the clot in the veins is fresh and can be removed by advanced treatment methods.
Mechanical Thrombectomy
This treatment is a minimally invasive procedure where a specialized type of equipment is used to remove the clot from the vein with thrombosis. A small hollow catheter is inserted into the vein of the leg through a pinhole and clot is taken out through it by suction. This procedure reduces the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome which would ultimately reduce the valvular pressure and avoid valvular damage caused by the blood clot
Intravenous thrombolysis
The catheter-directed thrombolysis is done in combination with anticoagulation therapy. A special catheter is inserted into the blocked vein through a small opening and clot bursting medication is injected over many hours. The powerful medication breaks the clot and normal blood flow is established in the veins.
IVC filter
The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the major vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart. The placement of a filter in this vein is one of the options that can be used as a prophylactic treatment for pulmonary embolism. The filter device is mesh of metallic wires and traps any dislodged clot thereby minimizing the risk of pulmonary embolism. The procedure involves the placement of a filter in IVC through a small incision in the groin or neck with the help of a catheter.
Chronic DVT and Post-thrombotic Syndrome
In long standing DVT cases, patients generally suffer from post-thrombotic syndrome with symptoms of leg heaviness, swelling, skin discoloration and ulcers. This condition occurs to the damage of the valves in these veins causing chronic venous insufficiency and inability to pump blood to the heart effectively. Till now, these patients were treated mainly conservatively with medicines and compression stockings. However, new age interventional radiology treatment methods offer a chance to these patients to beat this debilitating disease.
Chronic DVT treatments
1.Balloon Angioplasty
A skilled vascular interventional radiologist uses a small catheter for placing into the blocked vein and a wire guides it to the clot. The doctor then inflates the balloon in the catheter. The balloon helps in breaking the clot and widens the blocked area.
2.Endovenous Stenting
This method involves the placement of a stent (a mesh made up of metallic wires) in the blocked vein. This stent relieves the blockages and helps in restoring the normal blood flow. As a result, the severe symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome gradually reduce ad patients can enjoy normal life again.
May-Thurner Syndrome
This is a special condition where anatomical variation causes compression of the left common iliac vein (major vein of left leg in the lower abdomen) under the right common iliac artery (artery of the right leg in the lower abdomen). These patients are predisposed to developing chronic venous insufficiency and DVT of the left leg. Generally the condition is diagnosed after patients develop DVT. This condition can be treated by balloon angioplasty and endovenous stenting of the left common iliac vein thereby improving the venous outflow.
Read What Our Patients Say
Book Your Appointment
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers
Answer:
- Proloned immobilization
- Old age
- Heredity
- Carcinoma
- Smoking
- Obesity
- COVID-19
- Sickle cell disease
Answer: A healthy diet helps in maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure which reduces the clot formation tendency.
Answer:
- Regular exercises every day when healthy.
- Post-operative regular movement of the leg when bedridden.
- Healthy weight management.
- Quit smoking as it increases the risk of DVT.
Answer: Yes, DVT is fatal. Pulmonary thromboembolism, where clot gets dislodged and blocks the blood supply of the lung, is the major complication of DVT. Hence it is suggested to visit a vascular specialist and get immediate treatment for the DVT.
