Deep Vein Thrombosis

What is deep vein thrombosis?

A deep vein thrombosis occurs when the blood sets in the deep veins in the centre of the leg.

What are the signs and symptoms?

There may not be any initially, but then pain and swelling begin in the legs as the clot enlarges, sometimes very large clots can break off and travel to the lungs. If you suspect that you have a problem and think it might be a blood clot, you should seek medical advice. We can test for blood clots in the leg using an ultrasound scan.

What treatment do I need for a blood clot?

If the blood clots are picked up early then we can thin the blood on an out-patient basis using injections of Heparin initially followed by taking a tablet orally called Warfarin. If the clot is large then you may need to come into hospital to have the blood thinned with a larger dose of Heparin before receiving the Warfarin.

How common are blood clots?

They are quite common and in most people will dissolve without giving any trouble. If the clot does enlarge it can cause swelling of the leg and may then go to the lung, however early treatment usually prevents this.