Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Flashcards
What is DVT?
a blood clot in one of the deep veins in the body.
-blockage of the vein by a thrombosis which usually first appears in the calf but may then extend above the knee and possibly into the pelvis and abdomen
What blood vessels does it affect?
The deep veins of the leg:
- femoral and popiletal veins
- iliac (pelvic) veins
What is a deep vein?
A larger vein that is deep in the body (rather than a superficial one close to the surface)
What is thrombophilia?
The tendency to develop thrombosis. 35% of DVT have at least one hereditary thrombophilia. THis include deficiencies in the anticoagulation factors protein C, protein S, antithrombin, or mutations in the factor V and prothrombin genes
What causes DVT?
- recent surgery or hospitalization and not receiving heparin prevention treatment
- advanced age
- obesity
- infection
- immobilization
- use of combined pill
- tobacco usage
- air travel
- having a hereditary factor
What are the experienced symptoms and signs?
-swelling of the calf
-pain in the calf
sudden pulmonary embolus
-selling and redness of the leg
-dilation of the surface veins
-tenderness over the veins when pressure is applied
What are the abnormal test results?
- absence or reduction of venous flow and presence of thrombus on an ultrasound of the leg
- testing for D-dimer levels
What is D-dimer?
a cross-linked fibrin degradation product
-levels of this is an indication that thrombosis is occurring, and that the blood clot is being dissolved by plasmin
What is the medical/surgical intervention?
- immediate anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin
- 3 to 6 month anticoagulation with warafarin
What is the primary and secondary prevention?
-regular walking
-putting hospitalized patients on low molecular witgh heparin (e.g. enoxaparin)
-compression stockings to prevent clots in stroke patients
long-term warfarin therapy
