Deep Venous Thrombosis

Overview

deep vein thrombosis in calf

It is a vascular condition that refers to formation of a blood clot in a deep veins usually in the legs (but can occur in other parts of the body i.e pelvis or arms).They block blood flow that causes pain, swelling(usually unilateral), warmth, distended vein(palbable cord). Classified into distal/proximal deep venous thrombosis or provoked/unprovoked deep venous thrombosis. Its associated risk factors stem from the play between the virchow's triad i.e risk factors that are associated with venous stasis(immobility, prolonged standing) hypercoaguability of blood(malignancies,birth control use) and endothelial damage(from surgeries, trauma). Its most common and lethal complication is pulmonary edema and stroke. The mechanism behind DVT formation typically involves some combination of decreased blood flow, increased tendency to clot, changes to the blood vessel wall, and inflammation.
Preventive measures that are helpful in preventing these are wearing of compression socks especially during long hours of standing and pharmacological prophylaxis with anti-coagulants in high-risk individual(post-surgical patients).