It all starts with your blood

Blood has an important job: it must flow continuously and smoothly throughout your body for an entire lifetime. One of the key functions of blood is the process of clotting.

Blood clots are potentially lifesaving when they stop you from bleeding after an injury. Too much clotting of blood can be dangerous as this can cause partial or complete blockage within a vein. This is what happens when you have a DVT.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. These clots usually develop in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis, but they can also occur in other parts of the body. When a DVT forms, it can often block the flow of blood through the vein.

If a DVT is left untreated, the clot can sometimes move or smaller lumps from it can break away and travel to the lungs through the network of blood vessels in our bodies.

A blood clot in the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism which may be shortened to the term ‘PE’. This requires urgent medical attention as it can cause serious life-threatening complications.

Together, DVT and PE are known as venous thromboembolism or VTE – a dangerous, potentially life-threatening medical condition.

How are DVT and PE treated?

Blood clots are treated differently depending on the location and size of the clot as well as your overall health.

The main goal of treatment is to remove or stop existing clots from getting bigger and to prevent more clots from forming in the future.

Only through early diagnosis and treatment can further complications be avoided. These are some of the common treatment options your doctor may discuss with you:

Medications

There are a variety of medications which can be prescribed for DVT, including the following two most common types:

Anticoagulants

Medicine that prevents clots from forming. You may have heard of Warfarin, which is the name of an anticoagulant medication.

Thrombolytics

Medicine that dissolves blood clots.

Surgery and other procedures

Sometimes having surgery or a small procedure is the best option, for example if a blood clot is difficult to treat with conventional medicines or if you are unable to take the necessary medications. Some of these options are outlined below:

Mechanical thrombectomy

The surgical removal of a clot. This may be used in the urgent treatment for a clot and can be used if a patient cannot take medication to prevent their blood from clotting, for example after a car accident, a stroke or other surgery.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis

This procedure involves a long tube (a catheter) being inserted into a vein, in the direction of the blood clot where it then can be used to deliver clot-dissolving medication called thrombolytics.

Angioplasty

A nonsurgical treatment for DVT that is used to widen the vein after the blood clot has been dissolved.

Venous stents

Metal scaffolds are inserted in an interventional procedure. This stent expands against blocked or narrowed vein walls to provide support to the vein affected by clots. This helps keep the vein open allowing blood to flow, restoring normal circulation to the leg.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters

A special filter which is inserted into a blood vessel in your body, called the Inferior vena cava, that can prevent blood clots from moving from the vein in your leg to the lungs.

Compression socks

Sometimes also called compression stockings. These apply pressure to your lower legs, helping to maintain blood flow and reduce discomfort and swelling.

It is important to know that you are not alone when encountering difficulties managing the symptoms of DVT.

A doctor specialising in treating medical conditions related to blood vessels, known as a venous specialist, is often best placed to treat VTE and other related health complications. Your doctor may refer you to a venous specialist for a more tailored treatment option.