Deep Vein Thrombosis

Summary

Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Most deep vein clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. If the vein swells, the condition is called thrombophlebitis. A deep vein thrombosis can break loose and cause a serious problem in the lung, called a pulmonary embolism.

Sitting still for a long time can make you more likely to get a DVT. Some medicines and disorders that increase your risk for blood clots can also lead to DVTs. Common symptoms are :

• Warmth and tenderness over the vein
• Pain or swelling in the part of the body affected
• Skin redness

Treatment includes medicines to ease pain and inflammation, break up clots and keep new clots from forming. Keeping the affected area raised and applying moist heat can also help. If you are taking a long car or plane trip, take a break, walk or stretch your legs and drink plenty of liquids.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Find an Expert

• American Heart Association American Heart Association
• Find an Interventional Radiologist Society of Interventional Radiology
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Encyclopedia

• Antithrombin III blood test Medical Encyclopedia
• Limb plethysmography Medical Encyclopedia
• Mesenteric venous thrombosis Medical Encyclopedia
• Phlegmasia cerulea dolens Medical Encyclopedia
• Venogram – leg Medical Encyclopedia
• Venous insufficiency Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Blood Clots and Travel: What You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Chronic Venous Insufficiency Vascular Cures
• Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia American Heart Association
• Postthrombotic Syndrome American Heart Association
• Travelers’ Health: Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Venous Thromboembolism and Marathon Athletes American Heart Association

Women

• Blood Clotting and Pregnancy American Society of Hematology

Treatments and Therapies

• Blood Thinners: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis Radiological Society of North America
• Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal Radiological Society of North America

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Phlebitis National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Thrombophlebitis National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Venous Thrombosis National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Compression stockings Medical Encyclopedia
• D-dimer test Medical Encyclopedia
• Deep vein thrombosis – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Deep venous thrombosis Medical Encyclopedia

Diagnosis and Tests

• D-Dimer Test National Library of Medicine
• Doppler Ultrasound National Library of Medicine
• Venography Radiological Society of North America
• Venous Ultrasound Radiological Society of North America

Statistics and Research

• Data and Statistics on Venous Thromboembolism Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Deep Vein Thrombosis American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• What Is Venous Thromboembolism? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Specifics

• Deep Vein Thrombosis Vascular Cures
• Focus on Blood Clots Vascular Cures

Reference Desk

• Glossary Vascular Cures
• Vasculature of the Leg Texas Heart Institute

Prevention and Risk Factors

• How to Spot and Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis National Institutes of Health
• Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Living With

• Patient’s Guide to Recovery after Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism American Heart Association

Videos and Tutorials

• Preventing Blood Clots After Orthopaedic Surgery American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Journal Articles

• Deep Vein Thrombosis

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Silent Killer: Exploring the Impact of Deep Vein Blood Clots
• Struggling to Breathe: A Battle with Deep Vein Thrombosis

Images

• Venous thrombosis – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia