Femoral Embolism

Question 1

Femoral vein thrombosis:

Femoral veins are superficial veins and are more prone to clots than deeper veins.

What are the symptoms of femoral vein thrombosis?

Answer 1

Symptoms similar to DVT:

=> oedema of leg / pitting oedema
=> tenderness along the veins
=> low-grade fever

Question 2

What are the causes of femoral vein thrombosis?

Answer 2

Femoral vein thrombosis can occur as a result of surgery or complications from illness.

It can also be idiopathic.

Question 3

What are the risk factors for femoral vein thrombosis?

Answer 3

Immobility

Major medical conditions that require bed rest for a long time

Recent surgery or leg trauma

Existing, underlying clotting disorder

Cancer diagnosis

History of past DVT

Question 4

How do you diagnose femoral vein thrombosis?

Answer 4

=> Clinical confirmation via signs & symptoms

=> Compression ultrasonography : most commonly used imaging ; non-invasive

=> Venography : invasive diagnostic test used to look for DVT ; painful + expensive so only used if ultrasonography is inconclusive

=> MRI : if unable to do ultrasound

Question 5

How do you treat femoral vein thrombosis?

Answer 5

=> Prevention of clotting : anti-coagulation therapy i.e. heparin injections or fondaparinux injections initially then switch to warfarin.

=> DOACs i.e. apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran

=> Inferior vena cava filters if unable to take anti-coagulant

Question 6

How can you prevent femoral vein thrombosis?

Answer 6

Remain as mobile as ever

Question 7

Femoral arterial thrombosis (due to emboli from AF etc) => chronic / acute limb ischaemia => look at notes under peripheral vascular disease

Answer 7

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