Consumer Information

Deep Venous Thrombosis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the body. The deep veins in the legs, thighs, and hips are the most common sites for DVT. Having certain conditions such as infections, cancer, obesity, or heart failure puts you at risk for DVT. Taking medicines that contain estrogen (hormone) or being pregnant may also cause clots to form. Having a major surgery or injury may also lead to this condition. Increasing age over 50, being inactive for a long time, and smoking are other risk factors for DVT. With DVT, you can get a very bad condition called pulmonary embolism. This is when part of the clot breaks off and travels to block blood flow to the lungs.
DVT may cause swelling, redness, and pain or tenderness in your hips, thighs, or legs. Your caregiver may use ultrasound and blood tests to learn more about your condition. You may need treatment if you have DVT, or preventive treatment if you are at risk for it. Treatment includes medicines to keep new clots from forming and stop the clots you have from getting bigger. You may need emergency medicine to break apart clots blocking blood to a vital organ. Compression stockings, pneumatic boots, or vena cava filters may also be used to treat or prevent DVT. Finding and treating DVT as soon as possible may relieve your symptoms and prevent heart or lung problems.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Treatment or prevention of DVT can have risks. Using vena cava filters may lead to having more blood clots form. Medicines may cause growth problems in babies when used by pregnant mothers. The medicines may also cause bleeding that can become serious and life-threatening. Even with treatment, you may still get pulmonary embolism.
If DVT is not treated, increased pressure or decreased blood flow can injure tissues near the clot. This may damage valves in the deep vein such as in your leg. You may get long term pain and swelling in your leg. If the clot travels, your heart, lungs, brain or other body organs may be damaged. It can lead to life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction (heart attack), or stroke. If DVT is not prevented, you may have no signs of DVT but die from a pulmonary embolism. Ask your caregiver if you have questions about DVT, your medicines, or its treatment or prevention.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.

Medicines: Your caregiver may give you the following kinds of medicines:

Aspirin: This is medicine that may be given to help thin the blood to keep blood clots from forming.
Blood thinners: This medicine helps stop clots from forming in your blood. Blood thinners may be given before, during, and after a surgery or procedure. Blood thinners make it easier for you to bleed or bruise. While taking this medicine, use a soft toothbrush to prevent bleeding gums. If you shave, use an electric shaver.
Clot busters: This medicine helps break apart clots. It is given IV and may be given at the same time as other blood thinners. This medicine could save your life because blood clots in the heart, lungs or brain can kill you. Be careful because you may bleed or bruise easily.
Medicines for pain, swelling, or fever: You may be given medicines to treat pain, swelling, or fever while you are in the hospital. These medicines are safe for most people to use. However, they can cause serious problems when used by people with certain medical conditions. Tell caregivers if you have liver or kidney disease, a history of bleeding in your stomach, or any other medical problems. Also tell your caregiver about any allergies you have to medicines. Tell your caregiver about all other medicines, herbs, and supplements that you have taken lately.

Tests:

Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
Compression ultrasound: This is a test that uses sound waves to see your veins on a TV-like screen. Caregivers look for clots in the veins near the area of your pain and redness.
Contrast venography: This is a special x-ray of a vein after a dye has been put in. The dye makes the vein easier to see on the x-ray. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to this dye. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any of these.

Treatment options:

Compression stockings: Your caregiver may order compression stockings for you to wear. These are tight elastic stockings that put pressure on your legs. The pressure is highest near the toe and decreases as it goes towards the thighs. Wearing pressure stockings help push blood back up to the heart and keeps clots from forming. Ask your caregiver for more information on using compression stockings.
Pneumatic boots: These are plastic boots or leggings put on your feet or legs over pressure stockings or ace wraps. The boots or leggings are connected to an air pump machine. The pump tightens and loosens different parts of the pneumatic boots. This helps push the blood back up to the heart to keep clots from forming.
Inferior vena cava filter: This is a filter that is surgically placed inside the large vein bringing blood to your heart from your lower body. It is used when you cannot be treated with blood thinners. The filter traps clots in your blood to prevent you from getting a pulmonary embolus. Ask your caregiver for more information about inferior vena cava filters.

Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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