Deep Vein Thrombosis Flashcards
1
Q
Determinants of DVT (8)
A
Modifiable:
- Smoking
- Obesity, pregnancy, prolonged immobility/inactivity (decrease venous blood flow)
Non-Modifiable:
- > 60
- Previous history of coagulation or DVT
- Family history of thrombus formation
- Cancer
- Trauma
- Recent major surgery (decreases venous blood flow due to immobility)
2
Q
Aetiology/Pathophysiology of DVT
A
- Alteration/reduced blood flow
- Damage to vein wall (due to endothelium dysfunction)
- Abnormal blood coagulation (increases risk of clotting)
These all lead to thrombus forming –> thrombus can grow and extend, taking the shape of the lumen of blood vessel
3
Q
Clinical Features of DVT (6)
A
- Pain/tenderness
- Swelling
- Redness/altered skin colour
- Increase in temp to touch (more peripheral blood)
- Dilated Superficial Veins (Fluid can’t go into deeper veins)
- Asymptomatic
4
Q
Progression of DVT (3)
- Location
- Severity
A
1) Resolve it with management - Pharmacological (drugs can dissolve thrombus or reduce it from growing) or Surgical
2) Post-thrombotic syndrome
3) Embolise (thrombus deattaches from where it was or a bit broke off and lodges into smaller lumen of blood vessel)
Location:
- can happen in any vein
- 80% are proximal to the knee- associated with chronic conditions
- 20% are distal to the knee - associated with short-term conditions
- more common in lower extremities than upper extremities
Severity:
-Depends on how much of the lumen is obstructed by thrombus
