Thrombosis of the leg veins is a very dangerous disease in which intravascular coagulation occurs with the formation of blood clots. These blood clots can cause blockage of the veins or, when they come off, block the lumen of the pulmonary arteries, where they enter through the bloodstream.
Venous thrombi are soft, elastic, but loose, so they come off easily.
With the flow of blood, a thrombus that has broken away from the venous wall moves in the direction from the systemic circulation to the small circle, so it can enter the pulmonary arteries.
Depending on the affected veins of the legs, they are distinguished:
According to the nature of the course of thrombosis, three stages of the disease are distinguished:
Phlebothrombosis in the chronic stage often does not manifest itself externally, so some patients may not even be aware that they have this disease.
The main signs of acute thrombosis (superficial and deep veins) are:
These symptoms differ depending on the time when the blockage occurred, as well as the anatomical location of the vein in which the process occurs. Thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins usually develops with varicose veins. Phlebothrombosis often affects the deep veins of the leg. However, there is no connection with varicose veins.
Signs of vein blockage with phlebothrombosis and thrombophlebitis are similar:
You can independently identify pain symptoms at home that will allow you to suspect acute thrombosis:
These symptoms are not specific, but they may indicate a possible cause.
Considering that the external signs of thrombosis are not very specific, additional research methods are required to make a correct diagnosis and, accordingly, prescribe adequate treatment:
Blood tests provide clinical characteristics of the blood coagulation system (platelet count, hematocrit, prothrombin and thrombin time, fibrinogen content). D-dimer is a modern diagnostic sign of fibrin breakdown (a substance that is part of a blood clot).
Duplex ultrasound allows you to visualize the structure of veins, identify a blood clot, and determine the state of blood flow.
Phlebography (radiography of vessels after the introduction of a contrast agent into them) makes it possible to recognize floating thrombi, but with duplex ultrasound the head of such a thrombus can rarely be detected.
Magnetic resonance imaging is used to visualize blood clots and veins. Radionuclide scintigraphy is a rarely performed procedure to study blood flow in the veins, which is performed by injecting a radioactive substance into the blood.
Phlebotonometry is used to assess changes in pressure in the veins during movement.
This method allows you to find out the functional characteristics of vein valves.
Of all the variety of additional research methods, the most preferable in terms of its simplicity, efficiency, and from a financial point of view is duplex ultrasound.
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If acute thrombosis occurs, it is necessary to consult a doctor to prescribe anticoagulant therapy, and sometimes surgical intervention. A blood clot in the leg can cause a serious complication - pulmonary embolism (PE).
In PE, a blood clot that breaks away from the vein wall travels from the legs through the heart to the lungs, blocking their arteries, which can cause the death of the patient. Blood clots themselves rarely resolve, but the consequences they can lead to are very serious.
Treatment of leg thrombosis necessarily includes:
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As part of complex treatment, ointments are prescribed for blood clots on the legs. Ointments relieve inflammation, reduce pain, and promote the resorption of blood clots. Most often, ointments with heparin, horse chestnut, and tar are used (Hepatrombin, Lyoton, Venolife, Vishnevsky ointment). Ointments are rubbed in before bandaging and used for rubbing and compresses.
If the likelihood of developing pulmonary embolism is very high, surgical treatment is indicated. Among the most common types of surgical interventions for acute thrombosis of the veins of the lower extremities are:
All surgical interventions for thrombosis are performed in order to prevent a blood clot that has broken off from entering the lungs.
After the acute period, a period of recovery begins. With adequate prevention of recurrent thrombosis, complete recovery can occur. In most cases, unfortunately, the disease does not go away forever, and sometimes it is fraught with its consequences: further spread of thrombosis, abscess formation, PE (pulmonary embolism).
Therefore, after discharge from the hospital, in order to prevent the consequences of thrombosis, those measures that are easy for the patient to do independently, using traditional medicine, are effective.
Diet is the basis of any therapy, including antithrombotic therapy.
It is known that some foods can enhance the blood clotting process. Eliminating these foods from your daily diet can actually reduce the likelihood of blood clots. Such products include:
There are many products that act like aspirin, that is, they can thin the blood and make it more fluid.
Regular consumption of these products during antiplatelet therapy can enhance the anticoagulant effect:
Herbal medicine has proven itself very well as a folk remedy for the treatment of thrombosis and thrombophlebitis of the legs. Herbs can reduce blood clotting, improve microcirculation, strengthen the vascular wall, and relieve pain.
Herbs and herbal mixtures are used internally (in the form of teas, infusions, tinctures, decoctions) and externally (in the form of lotions, compresses, ointments). For this, wormwood, chamomile, birch buds, immortelle, sophora, celandine, sweet clover, horse chestnut and others are used.
Some medicinal herbs, such as horse chestnut, are included in official ointments (Venitan, Aescusan, Aescin).
Another recognized effective folk remedy for treating thrombosis is hirudotherapy (leech treatment). When leeches bite through the wall of a vein, they release a special substance into the human blood - hirudin, which can make the blood more liquid, preventing the formation of a blood clot.
With regular use of leeches, such an amount of hirudin accumulates in a person’s blood that is capable of dissolving blood clots already formed in the veins.
Vein thrombosis is essentially blood clots that can form in different parts of the body as a result of many circumstances.
Blood clots are a completely normal phenomenon, because nature provides for the formation of thrombotic masses for a reason. If our blood could not form blood clots, then every person would simply bleed to death from even a small cut, like a person suffering from hemophilia.
Blood clots should appear in people, but sometimes there are too many of them, or they take on pathological forms. In such cases, they become very dangerous to the health and body of the person; they can cause a quick heart attack or even sudden death. Blood clots, as they say, do not hurt, so only a few people who feel slight pain in the heart or lungs come to the doctor for help. Detecting a blood clot is extremely difficult and can only be done through a full examination. Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities often occurs suddenly when a person underestimates problems in the venous system.
Blood clots can also form in veins, usually in the lower part of the body, such as the legs, thighs and legs. This is extremely dangerous for all women with varicose veins, and vein thrombosis occurs in almost 70% of cases against the background of this disease.
Unfortunately, this disease is most dangerous because it has virtually no symptoms, especially in the early stages. Blood clots, by and large, cannot be seen or noticed, because they are located inside the human body. The patient will not notice any manifestations or symptoms, but there are some things that are indicators of the disease.
So, you need to be wary of vein thrombosis and pay attention to your health:
All these people should pay special attention to their health and their veins, even if there are no signs of illness, they still need to periodically visit a doctor and closely monitor their health.
The causes of thrombosis can be very different, all of the above points fall under them, but still the most common are:
All those who have some problems with the reasons described earlier should definitely consult a doctor for diagnosis and advice. This will help protect against further complications from the disease, because an undetected blood clot can move to the heart, and this is fraught with a heart attack or stroke at a young age, and in some cases even death if the disease is too “advanced.”
In order to find the disease at an early stage, it is imperative to monitor the veins and limbs and, at the first suspicion, immediately go to the doctor. If you see very swollen veins or pronounced blood clots on your body, then most likely you have a thrombosis.
At your doctor's office you will most likely:
Most people are not inclined to be afraid of the formation of blood clots, because they live with them for years without any dangerous consequences for the body, until one day something terrible happens. However, vein thrombosis is an extremely dangerous disease and must be treated immediately. Here are just some of the negative consequences that vein thrombosis can cause:
To avoid all these extremely negative consequences and complications, you need to carefully monitor your health and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Treatment of thrombosis of the veins of the lower extremities is a very long and complex process. It is very important to seek help from specialists in a timely manner. Advanced stages of thrombosis are very difficult to treat.
To treat existing vein thrombosis, your doctor may prescribe a number of procedures. Here are the main treatments used to treat thrombosis:
The doctor will prescribe a number of similar drugs that will prevent increased blood clotting, this will prevent further formation of new blood clots;
This procedure is simply the process of injecting a special solution that can completely dissolve a blood clot, although in some cases the drug can cause unnecessary bleeding;
This filter is capable of retaining blood clots in the lower parts of the body, this will help the formed blood clot remain in its place, it will not be able to move to the heart or lungs;
They will help reduce the risk of developing new blood clots, and will also apply special pressure to the lower body, which will increase blood flow.
Treatment time depends on a large number of factors, sometimes you need to spend 3 months, and sometimes more than a year. Everything will depend on the stage at which the disease develops, the patient’s lifestyle, nutrition, etc.
A blood clot can occur in any part of the body - this phenomenon is quite common. But how do you know that there is a blood clot in the body and what is such a pathology? A thrombus is a bloody clot that occurs in the cavity of the heart or the lumen of a vessel.
If there is a blood clot in your body, the cause may be a violation of the anticoagulant and coagulation systems, when there is an increase in coagulation and thickening of the blood. Typically, clots appear in places where the walls of blood vessels are damaged or in areas with atherosclerotic plaques. Next, the process of microinflammation begins, and as a consequence the deposition of fibrin threads.
This leads to the formation of a primary thrombus. The clot is enlarged by layering thrombotic masses both against the blood flow and along it. If there is already a blood clot, then it breaks off and blocks the blood flow. This phenomenon often becomes fatal.
Symptoms may vary depending on which section of the riverbed it is located on. For example, a blood clot in a deep vein may be accompanied by chills, fever, blueness and severe pain. But in some cases the course is not accompanied by symptoms. If the location of the pathology is a superficial vein, then it can be palpated; the vessel becomes denser to the touch, and upon palpation the sensations become painful.
The area affected by the blood clot becomes swollen, reddish, and hot. If the blood clot is in the lower limb, then the person feels pain in the calves and cramps in the calf muscles. If a vein becomes inflamed and a blood clot forms in its lumen, then in medicine this phenomenon is called thrombophlebitis. In this case, the main symptoms are tissue swelling, redness, bruising, fever, pain in the affected area. At a new stage of the disease, peeling of the skin occurs, the color changes, and a bluish tint is added.
Often such symptoms become a complication of varicose veins. If a blood clot breaks off on your leg, there can be very sad consequences. A clot can get stuck anywhere in the circulatory system. This is a very dangerous phenomenon that can often lead to death, for example, when the pulmonary artery is blocked. When the localization of the pathology turns out to be the head, obstruction of the cerebral vessels occurs, leading to a stroke.
The first symptoms of a stroke are loss of balance, speech impairment and paralysis of the limbs. Blockage of blood vessels in the extremities leads to peritonitis and mesenteric thrombosis. Damage to the vessel that feeds the heart causes myocardial infarction.
For preventive purposes, you should follow some rules to reduce the likelihood of blood clots:
First of all, you should carefully examine your legs, because most often it is in the extremities that clots appear. We can talk about thrombophlebitis if redness and thickening in the area of the veins are detected, as well as painful sensations when pressed. In addition, the temperature in the affected area often rises.
Secondary signs of the disease include: malaise, general weakness, fever. It should be noted that in patients who are unable to walk, phlebothrombosis of the deep veins in the legs often occurs. After such a phenomenon, you must definitely visit a doctor. The doctor will evaluate the thrombosis that has occurred in the legs, prescribe an ultrasound scan, and tests to check blood clotting.
If blood clots formed in the legs cause complications, then in some situations surgical intervention cannot be avoided. During surgery, the pathological blood clot is removed. This action is called thrombectomy in medicine.
In the case of a floating thrombus, the decision on the need to use antiplatelet agents should be made exclusively by the attending physician, since the consequences of taking them can cause detachment. If it is localized in the veins of the legs, then a special filter can be installed and thrombolytic therapy performed. In this case, the detached clot will not be able to move further.
Another way to remove a blood clot is minimally invasive; it involves passing the medicine through a catheter directly to the clot. Using such a catheter, absorbable special drugs are administered: Urokinase, Streptokinase and Alteptase. In this way, for example, a blood clot in the pulmonary artery can be resolved.
To correct the blood flow in the veins, elastic bandages and bandages are used - elastic compression. Often there is a need to apply such a bandage to the entire limb. For a period of up to two weeks, compression is required around the clock using elastic bandages of medium extensibility.
After the inflammatory symptoms have passed, compression is carried out only during the day, when intense physical activity occurs. In this case, special stretching knitwear is used. In this case, bandaging with elastic bandages should only be prescribed by a doctor, since it may be contraindicated in some cases.
A fairly effective method of treatment with leeches is hirudotherapy. But, it should be noted that it is recommended to take the course only in a medical institution under the supervision of doctors. Hirudotherapy cannot be used in the presence of purulent thrombophlebitis.
It is necessary to adhere to a balanced diet. It is necessary to eat foods that can strengthen the walls of blood vessels: garlic, onions, melon, watermelon, pineapple, ginger, as well as more vegetables and fruits. It is recommended to drink at least two liters of liquid per day. If the disease worsens, eliminate from the diet: fish, meat, peas, beans, soy, black currants, rose hips and bananas.
You can determine the presence of a blood clot at home, however, trying to cure it at home is strictly prohibited. At the first symptoms of the disease, it is recommended to immediately go to the hospital, as the lack of proper treatment can lead to death.
Diseases of the circulatory system can provoke thrombophlebitis in the legs and lead to serious consequences. This disease is dangerous because a blood clot breaks off from the walls of blood vessels and blocks the arteries, which can lead to death.
Superficial or internal thrombophlebitis have a different clinical picture. In the first case, external manifestations are more pronounced. If the leg is very red and there is pain in this area, tension in the veins is palpable, or an elevated temperature appears, then the formation of a blood clot may be the cause.
Internal thrombophlebitis often does not manifest itself at all and is more difficult to diagnose. If it is suspected, a number of measures are prescribed to identify or exclude it from possible diagnoses. Biochemical blood tests, ultrasound diagnostics of the femoral and knee veins, magnetic resonance and multispiral computed tomography are performed.
If the above signs of the disease begin to appear or the legs begin to get very tired, the skin changes color, there is pain, a feeling of fullness appears in the calves, knees, ankles, then this indicates symptoms of thrombophlebitis in the legs and requires urgent consultation with a doctor. Only a medical specialist can make a diagnosis based on a comprehensive examination.
Superficial and deep thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis of the blood vessels of the legs can occur at any age; this disease is caused by problems with normal blood flow and excessive blood thickness.
A provocation for the appearance of a blood clot can be varicose veins, prolonged immobility of a limb, infectious and allergic diseases, a history of diseases of the cardiovascular system, a sharply increasing load on the veins during physical labor or pregnancy. The risk group includes:
An untreated disease can become chronic. Particularly dangerous are types of infectious thrombophlebitis, in the presence of internal abscesses and internal thrombophlebitis accompanied by concomitant diseases of the circulatory system.
Depending on the nature of the disease, medications are prescribed in doses corresponding to the severity of the case. Competent treatment of thrombophlebitis involves a set of measures aimed at eliminating inflammation, resolving a blood clot, and preventing relapses of the disease.
For thrombophlebitis of the upper veins, bed rest is not indicated, since there is a high risk of developing internal thrombosis. Acute forms are treated in a hospital with subsequent transition to outpatient treatment. Initially, intravenous drips of anticoagulant drugs such as heparin are used.
Subsequent treatment is carried out using ointments and gels that affect the inflammation, such as troxevasin, lyoton, hepatrombin, indovazin, which are applied to the affected areas and evenly distributed over the surface of the leg to the knee or groin.
Severe pain in the leg is relieved with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs (ketoprofen, diclofenac, ketorolac). To support the walls of blood vessels from the inside, troxerutin and Wobenzym tablets are used at a dosage agreed with the doctor.
Complex forms of internal thrombophlebitis are treated with bed rest. The leg should be elevated to allow blood to flow out and reduce swelling. Initial treatment is carried out inpatiently. Injections of blood thinning drugs (Clexane, Fraxiparine, Fragmin) are used. Subsequently, a course of tablet form of treatment is prescribed, for example, warfarin.
For complicated forms of thrombophlebitis, surgical treatment is prescribed. This may be a minimally invasive operation to install a vena cava filter in a vein to prevent the migration of a blood clot when it breaks off and prevent it from entering the arteries. This procedure is most often performed under local anesthesia and does not require a long hospital stay.
To treat long-term blockage, bypass surgery or minimally traumatic intervention of the affected segment of the main vein (stenting) is sometimes performed. Thrombectomy is also performed - an operation to remove large thrombotic masses. Indications for surgery are determined by the doctor and are individual in nature.
In complex therapy for the treatment of thrombophlebitis, folk remedies are used together with medications. Self-prepared ointments, compresses, and herbal infusions are widely used:
Blue iodine has an anti-inflammatory effect on the walls of blood vessels and increases their elasticity. Since the use of iodine in large doses is contraindicated in thrombophlebitis, iodine treatment is recommended as an adjuvant.
The course is designed for a week. Take one teaspoon per day after meals, then increase to three by the end of the week. Ten days later, repeat. When using, it should be washed down with milk.
Vein problems? See a doctor urgently!
To prevent the development of the disease, it is recommended to adhere to proper nutrition, from which foods containing fast carbohydrates, sugar, and large amounts of fat are excluded.
Alcohol is completely excluded. You should avoid consuming foods that contain large amounts of vitamin K, as it slows down the effect of blood thinning medications. These are green vegetables (tomatoes, broccoli) and herbs.
If your legs swell greatly and fatigue appears, therapeutic exercises are indicated. A set of exercises can be obtained from your doctor. Usually this is bending and straightening the legs, swinging to the sides and forward, and the “bicycle” exercise. Avoid overexertion and repeat the exercises several times a day if possible.
If a limb is immobilized for a long time after injury or surgery, it is necessary to take drugs that strengthen the walls of blood vessels and promote normal blood flow (Phlebodia tablets).
A light massage is indicated if a blood clot has not yet formed. With varicose veins, control over the dynamics of the disease is mandatory. The use of decongestant ointments and gels.
If any suspicion arises, a medical consultation is necessary, on the basis of which recommendations for the prevention of thrombophlebitis will be obtained.
Superficial form of the disease
The threat of thrombophlebitis of the legs is the ascending spread of the disease and damage to healthy veins. Pulmonary thromboembolism is especially dangerous when a pulmonary artery is blocked as a result of a blood clot.
The development of postthrombophlebitis syndrome can lead to further spread of varicose veins, constant swelling and pain in the legs.
If thrombophlebitis of the leg veins returns as a relapse, then additional tests should be performed, since in this case the cause of the disease may not be eliminated. It can develop into a chronic form or migratory thrombophlebitis, when treatment is quite difficult.
In some cases, a trophic ulcer may develop on the lower limb, which is difficult to treat and carries the risk of infectious blood poisoning. If any signs of ulcer formation are detected, such as scratches that do not heal for a long time, peeling and discoloration of the skin, you should immediately consult a doctor.
An ulcer is treated with the use of antibacterial and healing agents, such as Actovegil. In severe cases, surgery or skin grafting is possible.
Based on medical statistics, a small proportion of people with thrombophlebitis recover completely; the main reason for this is untimely recognition of signs of the disease and lack of prevention.
In fact, 90 percent of them experience complications after their illness. If there are complex forms of the disease or serious consequences, there is a risk of becoming disabled.
Therefore, it should be remembered that the treatment of this serious disease must be timely and comprehensive, and it is possible to get rid of the disease if you know how to treat thrombophlebitis correctly.
What is thrombosis? Let's immediately note that there are two very similar concepts in medicine: thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. In both cases, blood clotting is impaired, and blood clots (blood clots) appear in the veins.
The composition of blood clots is usually as follows:
The venous thrombus is, as it were, “attached” to the wall of the vessel - sometimes quite firmly, in other cases it “dangles” in the lumen of the vein. The latter are dangerous because they can break away from the wall and float through the venous system to the heart, and this already threatens instant death.
Therefore, thrombosis of the veins of the lower extremities must be seriously treated, and if you have a tendency to form blood clots, then you may have to be treated for the rest of your life, taking blood thinning medications.
Photo of vein thrombosis on the left leg
We have found out what thrombosis is. Now let's deal with thrombophlebitis. Everything is very simple. The ending -itis in medicine always indicates inflammation (when the temperature rises in the sore spot, pain and redness occur).
So thrombophlebitis is thrombosis plus inflammation of the venous wall at the site of attachment of the thrombus. Therefore, in the treatment of thrombophlebitis, much attention is paid to anti-inflammatory drugs, while in the treatment of thrombosis, mainly blood thinning drugs are used.
The main symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are pain and swelling of the limb. If superficial vessels are thrombosed, then redness of the skin occurs in some areas.
There are about 2 dozen reasons for the occurrence of thrombosis, especially deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities. This includes:
Acute thrombosis is called so because the symptoms appear suddenly and increase rapidly. Damage to deep vessels is especially common, with symptoms varying depending on the “height” of the affected vein.
Pain, blueness, and swelling can occur in one leg or in both legs at once (if the blood clot is located in a large vein in the abdomen, called the inferior vena cava).
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by an imperceptible onset and a gradual increase in pain and swelling. Sometimes there is redness and tenderness of the nodes under the skin. But here only an experienced doctor will be able to figure it out and make the correct diagnosis.
Duplex scanning of leg vessels
The diagnosis is made after an ultrasound examination (ultrasound of veins), also called Doppler - duplex or triplex scanning.
If ultrasound is not enough, doctors use radiopaque venography. Simply put, a substance is injected into the venous bed, which shows on an x-ray where exactly the blood flow is obstructed.
Treatment always depends on the severity and stage of the disease. The most severe and acute conditions must be treated, of course, in a hospital, in the surgical department. This does not mean that you will have surgery right away. Perhaps doctors will first try to rid you of this scourge using medications.
And only as a last resort is surgery performed. The operations are also very varied - up to installing a filter on a vein so that a broken blood clot does not get into the heart.
This occurs when blood cannot flow through the deep veins and blood flow goes through the superficial, subcutaneous vessels. By squeezing these vessels, we can completely block the outflow of venous blood, and this is fraught with serious complications.
Now look at how this disease is treated and diagnosed:
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside a person's body. A thrombus in a vein is a blood clot that is not in a gelatinous state, but in a solid state. These clots usually form in the thigh or lower leg, but can also develop in other veins of the body. Other names for this condition are thromboembolism, postthrombotic and postphlebitic syndrome.
Thrombosis most often occurs in people over 50 years of age. Certain conditions can change the route blood travels through the veins and significantly increase the risk of developing blood clots. These risk factors include:
Some diseases and disorders can also increase your risk of blood clots. These diseases include hereditary bleeding disorders, cancer and inflammatory diseases. Heart failure, which prevents the heart from pumping blood normally, also comes with an increased risk of blood clots.
Heart failure increases the risk of thrombosis
DVT is one of the main side effects of any surgery. The risk percentage is especially high if the patient is scheduled for surgery in the lower extremities. Pregnancy also increases the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. Elevated hormone levels and slow blood flow in the uterus significantly limit the return flow of blood from the lower extremities. Impaired reflux may last up to six weeks after birth. Being on bed rest or having a cesarean section also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Obvious symptoms of thrombosis are observed in only half of the people, while in the rest only general signs can be noted, which include:
You should see your GP as soon as possible if you experience any symptoms of DVT, such as pain, swelling and severe pain in your leg. The doctor will review your medical history and order several tests.
It is quite difficult for even a qualified phlebologist to diagnose DVT based on symptoms alone, which is why a specialized blood test is prescribed for a special protein, D-dimer. This test detects pieces that have broken off from the clot and travel through the blood vessels. The greater the number of fragments found, the more likely it is that the patient has a large blood clot in the artery. However, the D-dimer test is not always reliable because fragments of thrombotic tissue may be present in the blood after surgery, injury, or a metabolic disorder. Additional tests such as ultrasound scans and venograms will help make an accurate diagnosis.
An ultrasound scan may also be ordered to look for clots in the veins. A special type of ultrasound machine (namely a Doppler ultrasound probe) can also be used to find out how fast blood is flowing through a blood vessel in the leg. If blood flow slows or is blocked in certain areas, it may be caused by a blood clot.
Venography may be prescribed if the results of the D-dimer test and ultrasound cannot clearly confirm the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. During venography, a special liquid (contrast agent) is injected into a vein. The dye travels up the leg and is highlighted by an x-ray. Thus, in those places where a gap in the blood vessel will be visible on the image, the clot stops the flow of blood.
Treatment of DVT is aimed at maintaining normal blood flow, eliminating unpleasant symptoms and preventing the growth of blood clots. In addition, the doctor will select medications to prevent pulmonary embolism and reduce the risk of new blood clots.
Warfarin is effective in treating thrombosis
Anticoagulants (blood thinners) are most often prescribed. Warfarin is the most popular oral medicine that actively prevents blood clotting. You need to know that it will take several days to feel the positive effects of the drug. The dose is selected individually for each person, and blood clotting indicators should be regularly monitored on an outpatient basis. Therefore, you should not take pills on your own.
Changes in diet, daily activities, and other medications may affect the required dosage of warfarin. During treatment of thrombosis, it is also necessary to undergo regular blood tests for international normalized ratio. Ideally, the INR should be between 2.0 and 3.0. Blood tests are done weekly until the INR stabilizes, and then every 2 weeks or once a month.
Enoxaparin is a temporary substitute for warfarin
Enoxaparin (Lovenox) is a low molecular weight heparin and is injected under the skin to thin the blood. The dose is usually 1 mg per kilogram of weight. Enoxaparin is usually prescribed as a temporary drug that actively thins the blood in the days before warfarin takes effect. However, Lovenox may be used as a primary drug for a long time in some cancer patients.
Xalerto (rivaroxaban) is a newer drug that is a selective factor Xa inhibitor. The drug is a tablet for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and can be used as a prophylactic agent. Apixaban and Pradaxa are also used to prevent blood clots.
Xalerto can be used for prevention
But blood clots located in the femoral artery near the groin area may require more radical treatment with thrombolytic therapy. The drug is injected directly into the clot itself. Typically, this operation is performed by a specialist (vascular surgeon or interventional cardiologist) who uses X-rays to place a catheter or tube in the affected vein. Medicine will then be dripped directly into the clot (for a certain period of time), after which the clot will dissolve.
Surgery is a very rare and definitive treatment option for extensive deep vein thrombosis in the legs in patients who cannot take oral blood thinners. Those who have gastrointestinal bleeding, intracranial bleeding (bleeding inside the brain or surrounding tissues), and those who have had injuries to the last major vessels may die from blood loss if they start taking prescribed anticoagulation medications.
Surgery is also indicated if blood clots still occur while taking anticoagulant medications. The operation usually involves placing a special filter in the inferior vena cava to prevent embolization. The vena cava is a large vessel that collects blood from the lower part of the body just before it enters the heart. The filter may be placed in the vena cava. It will trap clots that have broken away from the walls and begun their journey to the heart and then to the lungs.
If possible, treatment of uncomplicated deep vein thrombosis is carried out on an outpatient basis. Beforehand, the patient and his family are given special consultations about how and at what time to give injections, in which cases you need to contact your family doctor or the hospital for appropriate monitoring (blood tests). Some patients must be hospitalized, especially if serious illnesses, pregnancy, or allergies are diagnosed.
The duration of anticoagulant treatment depends on the circumstances that led to the development of the blood clot. If thrombosis is caused by temporary risk factors, such as long travel or bed rest prescribed due to injury or illness, then treatment can last from 3 to 6 months. However, if the cause is unknown or there is a risk for recurrent clots, treatment may last more than 12 months.
If thrombosis is diagnosed, regular examinations by a doctor are required.
Not all cases of DVT require anticoagulant therapy. Because small clots located in the veins of the legs below the knee have a low risk of embolization to the lungs, passive observation of the patient without the use of drugs is possible. With serial venous ultrasound examinations, the thrombus is very easy to monitor. In the image, the doctor can see that the blood clot is expanding and growing or, conversely, is stable and does not require further treatment.
The initial diagnosis of DVT is usually made by a general practitioner, primary care physician, family physician or emergency medicine specialist. Depending on the severity of the disease, the need for intravascular or surgical intervention, you can make an appointment with a vascular surgeon or interventional cardiologist. Other specialists who may be contacted for further advice are a pulmonologist (a doctor who specializes in the lungs) or a hematologist.
The main complication of DVT is pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is diagnosed when a clot travels to the lungs and blocks blood vessels. This can cause serious damage to both the lungs and other parts of the body. The patient should receive immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. These symptoms include:
Compression stockings can help prevent complications
To prevent complications, as well as post-thrombotic syndrome, it is recommended to wear compression stockings. These stockings will be especially useful for those who travel a lot and often notice swollen and chronically painful legs. These stockings can be purchased without a prescription at any pharmacy. It is recommended to wear them for at least a year after thrombosis diagnosis.
Anyone can independently reduce their risk of deep vein thrombosis by making a few changes to their daily lifestyle. Such changes include:
It is very important to take blood thinners as prescribed by your doctor, as well as wear compression stockings and baths. In general, the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis while traveling is extremely low, but it becomes higher if the patient sits in one position for more than four hours. You can easily reduce this risk by massaging your feet or lightly pinching them. A short walk in the aisles of an airplane, bus or train will also benefit sore feet.