Happy new year everyone!!
I learnt about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) this evening which is medical condition that can develop when someone is ill or having an operation.
What is DVT?
A DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein inside the body, for example in the leg. This clot may partially or completely block blood flow in the vein. This can consequently cause skin warmth, redness and/or tenderness. Although research also shows that sometimes a DVT can form without causing any of these symptoms.
Sometimes part of the clot can break off and travel through the veins to the lungs where it is deposited and therefore blocks blood flow, this is known s a pulmonary embolism (PE). A large PE can cause chest pain, breathing problems, coughing up blood and even sudden collapse or death.
What causes a DVT?
Sometimes DVT occurs for no apparent reason. Others inherit or develop an increased risk of DVT. Finally being unwell and having reduced mobility can lead to changes in the blood and sluggish blood flow, particularly in the veins in the legs. These changes in flow make clotting more likely and the formation of a DVT.
"Risk factors" for DVT:
- 3 days reduced mobility
- You are much less active, are having an operation or have suffered from a serious injury and you fall under one of the following categories ; receiving treatment for cancer, 60+, thrombophilia (a condition which makes your blood more likely to clot) or BMI 30+
- You are dehydrated
- Having an operation that takes longer than 90 minutes (reduced to 60 minutes if the operation is on the leg, hip or abdomen)
How do doctors/nurses reduce the chances of a patient developing a DVT?
An assessment is carried out to calculate the risk of a particular patient developing DVT. Afterwards preventative measures are recommended which are carried out in the hospital and for a few weeks after the patient has left the hospital. Theses may include:
- Avoiding dehydration
- Mobilising early and as frequently as possible
- Use of elastic support such as stockings
- Intermittent compression boots
- Injections of heparin (an anticoagulant or "blood thinner")
- Tablet anticoagulant medication
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