Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment in Udupi

Overview

Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT is a condition where there is a formation of a blood clot in a vein, which is located deep inside the body. 

The clot is formed due to the malfunctioning of a valve in the vein that slows the speed of blood flow. Deep vein thrombosis can be dangerous if not treated on time, as the clot can dislodge itself and travel toward the lungs leading to another condition known as pulmonary embolism. 

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is also called venous thrombosis. Moreover, one can get DVT in the popliteal vein, which runs up the back of the knee and carries blood from the lower leg to the heart. This condition is called popliteal vein thrombosis and can be life-threatening.

You can get help from Medfin to treat deep vein thrombosis or DVT in Udupi and many other major cities of the country through experienced vascular surgeons, with the latest, medically and technologically advanced techniques.

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT?

A blood clot or thrombosis forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your lower leg, pelvis, or thigh. This is known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can occur without any symptoms. 

Leg pain and swelling are commonly seen. Medical conditions, inactivity after going through physical injuries, and confinement to a bed are a few major causes of DVT.

Blood clots in your veins can break loose, travel through your bloodstream, and lodge in your lungs, blocking blood flow. This condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE). PE is a very serious condition. It can damage the lungs and other organs in the body and cause death. This makes DVT a serious condition that needs medical attention.

What Are The Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis can form if you have certain medical conditions that affect the way your blood circulates or clots. 

Being immobile for a very long time can also cause DVTs, such as after surgery or an accident, or when you're confined to a bed. This is because muscle contractions help the blood to flow. When the legs do not move for long, these contractions do not happen.

Another cause for venous thrombosis symptoms is damage and inflammation due to injury and infection, or damage to a vein from surgery. Such injury can increase the risk of blood clots.

Apart from these DVT causes, there are risk factors that make you prone to the condition:

• Age: Being over 60 enhances your risk of DVT, although it can occur at any age.
• Pregnancy: Pressure increases in the pelvic area and legs during pregnancy. The risk of clot formation remains even after six weeks of delivery.
• Birth control pills/hormone replacement therapy: Both increase the ability of the blood to clot.
• Obesity: Obesity also puts pressure on the pelvis and legs’ veins.
• Smoking: Smoking or using tobacco products affects how blood flows as well as clots. 
• Heart failure: Failure of the heart increases the chances of both DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE).
• Cancer: Some cancers and cancer treatments can enhance the risk of blood clot formation.
• Genetics: Some DNA changes can cause the blood to clot more easily. An inherited disorder generally leads to blood clots when there are additional risk factors. A family history of DVT or PE also puts you at a greater risk for DVT.
• Inflammatory bowel disease: The risk of DVT rises with conditions/diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. 
• Vein disease: Having a vein disease like varicose veins can also put you at risk for DVT.
• Lastly, having a central venous catheter or pacemaker in your body, or having contracted COVID-19 in the past can also increase your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis or DVT.

What are the Signs And Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis symptoms might be related to DVT itself or pulmonary embolism (PE). Only about half of the people who have DVT show any signs and symptoms. Some people aren't aware of a deep vein clot until they have signs of PE. 

DVT symptoms occur in the leg affected by the deep vein clot and you need to contact a healthcare provider in Udupi for treatment. Early-stage DVT symptoms in the leg include:

• Swelling of the leg, or along a vein in the leg
• Pain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking
• Increased warmth in the area of the leg that's swollen or painful
• Red or discolored skin on the leg

Apart from the signs of DVT, let us see what the warning signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism or PE include:

• Sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
• Pain with deep breathing
• Leg pain or swelling
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Rapid breathing
• Fast heart rate
• Feeling dizzy and fainting
• Excessive sweating
• Fever

Seek emergency medical help in case of these warning signs. Go for a medical checkup when you notice symptoms of DVT in the leg.

Do not ignore the signs; get a check-up done immediately for deep vein thrombosis as Medfin offers great services in Udupi and many other cities.

How Is Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosed?

Physical examination by a doctor in Udupi is required to diagnose deep vein thrombosis. Post examination of signs of DVT in the leg and depending on how likely you are to have a blood clot, your doctor may suggest these tests:

A D-Dimer Blood Test

Blood clots produce the protein called D dimer. So when DVT is severe in a patient, his/her D dimer blood levels will be high. D-dimer test also helps rule out pulmonary embolism (PE).

Duplex Ultrasound

This is the most common, standard test for DVT. It is painless, noninvasive, and repeatable as it does not need radiation. Sound waves create pictures of how blood flows in your veins. Additional ultrasounds help detect blood clots that develop later on or the existing clots that have grown over time. Even if no blood clot is detected, this test can help reveal other causes for your existing symptoms.

Venography

In this DVT diagnosis test, a dye is injected into a large vein of your foot or ankle. This solution/dye mixes with the blood and flows throughout your veins. Now an X-ray is taken which shows blockages in the veins of your calf and thigh clearly. However, this test is rarely done, as it’s invasive and needs radiation.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan

MRI is noninvasive and painless. It helps produce cross-sectional images of the body’s internal structures, such as blood vessels and veins. In some cases, magnetic resonance venography or MRV may also be used to see pictures of the veins in specific locations in the body. 

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

It’s a type of X-ray. It also shows your internal body structures and helps find a DVT in your brain, pelvis, or abdomen. It further aids with finding blood clots in your lungs (pulmonary embolism).

What Are The Treatment Options For Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT?

Based on the observations of the doctor and results from the diagnostic tests, the doctor will decide to use a non-surgical or a surgical line of treatment to treat deep vein thrombosis or DVT. 

The three main goals behind treating deep vein thrombosis or DVT are:

• Keeping the clot from getting bigger.
• Preventing the clot from breaking loose and reaching the lungs.
• Reducing the chances of developing another deep vein thrombosis

Non-Surgical Treatment

• Blood Thinners: Anticoagulants, also called blood thinners, decrease your blood’s ability to clot. This will not get rid of the existing clot but will prevent the DVT blood clot from becoming bigger and reduce the risk of forming new clots. There are different types of anticoagulants and you need to take them for a few months or indefinitely.
• Clot Busters (Thrombolytics): These are used in more severe cases of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, or when medications fail to work. The doctor administers medication that will break the clot. Clot busters are drugs that are administered through an IV (intravenous) line or directly at the clot through a catheter (a tube). However, since they can cause serious bleeding, they’re only used for severe clots.
• Compression/Support Stockings: These are special knee socks. They prevent the pooling up of blood and reduce swelling in the legs by applying gentle pressure on your leg. 

Surgical Treatment

If the non-surgical line methods are unable to treat deep vein thrombosis or DVT, then the doctor may suggest a surgical line of treatment. Options include:

• IVC Filter Placement: If you are unable to take blood thinners for some reason, then an inferior vena cava filter, a small device, is used. The filter is placed in the main vein leading to your heart called the vena cava. The filter has a special design to catch most blood clots flowing through the bloodstream before they reach the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.
• Venous Thrombectomy: This is a type of procedure used to remove a clot that has formed inside an artery or vein. The surgeon will either make a cut in the blood vessel above the clot to remove it, or insert a thin tube called a catheter into a vein and through blood vessels to reach the clot. In both these ways, they also use a contrast dye to pinpoint the clot's location. Moreover, a special balloon, attached to the catheter, might be inserted and inflated to remove any remaining portion of the clot. In some cases, a stent may be placed to keep the vessel open enabling blood to flow smoothly. Venous thrombectomy is the last resort for DVT treatment in Udupi.

What Happens if Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is Left Untreated?

If deep vein thrombosis or DVT is left untreated it can lead to many serious complications that could even be life-threatening. There are two main complications of deep vein thrombosis in the leg:

Pulmonary Embolism

The clot from your leg may be carried by the blood to your lungs causing a blockage by getting stuck in a blood vessel in the lungs. This is a life-threatening situation that is characterized by a sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid pulse, coughing blood, etc.

Postphlebitic Syndrome

This is characterized by persistent swelling of the legs, skin sores, and leg pain. It involves reduced blood flow in the affected areas due to damage to the veins from blood clots.

Besides these two complications, DVT disease can also have problems during its treatment. Blood thinners used in treatment can cause bleeding (hemorrhage). This calls for the need for regular blood tests when taking blood thinners.

Do not leave deep vein thrombosis or DVT untreated. Contact Medfin and get DVT treatment in Udupi.

How Can Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT Be Prevented?

Lifestyle changes can help with preventing deep vein thrombosis or DVT. A few measures to include are:

• Regular exercise of your calf muscles lowers the chances of DVT. Avoid sitting still for long. Stand up and walk every 30 to 60 minutes, whether on a long flight or during a long car journey. If you have had surgery or been advised of bed rest, try to move at the earliest with the doctor’s permission. This can help you primarily avoid DVT in the leg.
• Watch your weight as obesity is a risk factor for DVT. Manage a healthy weight with the help of a balanced diet and regular exercise. 
• Quit smoking as it also increases the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis or DVT. 
• After surgery, take medications as instructed and use compression stockings if the doctor has prescribed them to reduce the risk of developing a blood clot.

Why Choose Medfin?

Surgery can be a daunting aspect, and feeling anxious is absolutely normal. The massive amount of information you can get from the internet may confuse you even more. This is where Medfin can help. Leave us the hefty task of finding the best hospital, the finest doctor, and the latest procedure at the lowest cost. Let us take charge while you sit back and focus on your health and recovery. Think surgery! Think Medfin!