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© 2022 by PRISTYN CARE Pristyn Care® is a trademark of GHV Advanced Care Private Limited
© 2022 by PRISTYN CARE Pristyn Care® is a trademark of GHV Advanced Care Private Limited
Everything You Need To Know About Deep Vein Thrombosis
Delaying the treatment of deep vein thrombosis can result in life-threatening complications. To prevent that from happening, consult experienced vascular surgeons and get treated in the most painless, advanced, and effective USFDA-approved procedure.
Table Of Index
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
How does it form?
Types of disease
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Severity
Risks & Complications
When to consult a doctor ?
Our DVT Specialists
Questions to ask your doctor .
Treatment options & cost
Insurance coverage
Recovery rate
Long term outlook of the treatment
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that occurs due to the formation of blood clots in the deep veins that are located in the body. These clots usually develop in the lower legs, thigh or pelvis, but can also appear in other parts of the body. A condition of DVT can be very serious as blood clots in the veins can break loose, travel through the bloodstream and get stuck in the lungs, leading to a complication called pulmonary embolism which is the blocking of the blood flow.
How does it form?
A deep vein thrombosis typically forms due to a slow circulation of blood in the veins. This slow movement of blood can result in the formation of blood clots in the veins located deep inside your body.
Types of disease
Acute deep vein thrombosis
Chronic deep vein thrombosis
Causes
- Hereditary
- Obesity
- Injury
- Prolonged sitting or standing
- Cancer
- Birth control pills
- Prolonged bed rest
- Smoking
Symptoms
- Swelling on the calf of one or both the legs
- Pain that may worsen due to prolonged standing or walking
- Red or discoloured skin on the legs followed by a warm sensation
- Veins that are swollen, red, hard and appear tender while touching
- Cramping pain in the affected leg that usually initiates in the calf
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Swelling in the arm or hand
- Blue tinted skin colour
- Pain that moves from the arm to the forearm
- Feeling of weakness in the hand
- Coughing that may bring up blood
- Sharp pain in or tightening in the chest
- Pain in the shoulder, arm, back, or jaw
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
Diagnosis
- D-dimer blood test: D-dimer is a type of protein produced due to the formation of blood clots. A D-dimer test is used to measure the presence of the protein fragment that is released due to the breaking up of the blood clots. This test also helps in ruling out the possibility of a condition of pulmonary embolism.
- Duplex Ultrasound: This is a standard imaging test that helps in diagnosing a condition of DVT. During the test, the doctor or technician uses sound waves to determine the blood flow and detect the presence of any blockage or blood clots located deep in the veins with the help of a transducer.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: This is an imaging test that uses radio waves and a magnetic field to provide images of the body. An MRI scan helps in diagnosing a condition of DVT in the veins of the abdomen. Generally, this test is used to diagnose the condition in patients for whom an ultrasound examination is unfeasible or inappropriate.
- Venography: This is a type of X-ray that involves the injecting of a dye into a large vein in the foot or ankle. The X-ray then creates images of the veins in the legs and feet, which helps the doctor to look for the presence of blood clots. However, since this is an invasive procedure, it is mostly replaced by a duplex ultrasonography and is only used in certain patients.
Severity
In this stage the blood flows freely and mixes with anticoagulants present in the blood that keeps the blood cells from clotting.
Risks & Complications
- Reaction to the anaesthesia
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Damage to blood vessels
- Stroke
PreventionGeneral measures that can help in lowering the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis include; avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, wearing compression stockings, avoiding dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding alcoholic fluids, and specific leg and breathing exercises to encourage blood flow in the legs. Although these measures can help in preventing the occurrence of a DVT, it is always the right decision to consult a doctor and seek appropriate treatment for your condition.
Celebrities diagnosed with DVT- Navjot Singh Sidhu: Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was diagnosed with acute deep vein thrombosis and had to undergo a surgery back in the year 2015.
- Steve Waugh: The former Australian cricket team captain was diagnosed with a condition of DVT back in October 2001. Waugh had to undergo a brief spell of anticoagulant treatment in order to get rid of the blood clots.
- Serena Williams: Top-ranked women’s tennis player, Serena Williams had a DVT-related scare in March 2011. Williams was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism as a result of several blood clots that had travelled to her lungs. She had to be put on an anticoagulant heparin drip to treat the life-threatening condition.
- Andrew Flintoff: In September 2009, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff found out that he had been diagnosed with a condition of DVT in his right calf that led to his retirement from Test Cricket.
- Hillary Clinton: American politician and diplomat Hillary Clinton had to be hospitalized for her condition of DVT in the year 2012. The former First Lady was previously diagnosed with a similar condition of blood clot that had to be treated immediately back in the year 1998.
Myths & factsMyth 1: Blood clots only happen to older patients with poor health conditions.
Fact: Certainly not. The fact is, everyone is at the risk of developing a blood clot, irrespective of their age, gender and health conditions. However, older patients with poor health conditions have a higher risk of suffering from a pulmonary embolism.
Myth 2: DVT is not a serious condition.
Fact: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious medical condition that can result in complications that can potentially be fatal.
Myth 3: Women are at a greater risk of DVT
Fact: As DVT is associated with birth control and pregnancy to an extent, it is a common assumption that women have an increased risk of developing blood clots. However, statistically, men have a higher rate of occurrence of DVT and pulmonary embolism.
Myth 4: Blood clots are not common and the complications of DVT are rare.
Fact: Worldwide, one out of every four people die of the conditions caused by blood clots, particularly DVT. Complications of DVT can be severe if proper treatment is not received on time.
Lesser known facts about DVT- Worldwide, there are approximately 10 million cases of DVT every year.
- Among the total population of people diagnosed with DVT, one-third suffer from long-term complications such as swelling, pain, and skin discoloration.
- The first ever well-documented case of DVT was recorded back in the year 1271.
- Annually, about one lakh people die suffering from blood clots every year.
- The mortality rate of people dying within a year after being diagnosed stands at 37%.
When to consult a doctor ?
A condition of deep vein thrombosis can lead to severe complications if the blood clots break loose and travel through your bloodstream. This blood clot can get stuck in your lungs resulting in a condition of pulmonary embolism which can be fatal.
If you experience any of the signs and symptoms of DVT, that include swelling, pain, and skin discoloration, you should consult a doctor without making any further delay in your treatment.
If you experience signs and symptoms like sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid pulse, coughing up blood or dizziness, it is an indication that your condition has escalated into a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is considered a medical emergency as it can result in complications that are immediately life-threatening.
Questions to ask your doctor .
What is likely the cause of my DVT?
Are there any risks associated with my condition of DVT?
How long can I wait for the treatment of my blood clots?
Am I at risk of developing a pulmonary embolism?
Are there any risks of my condition escalating into a post-thrombotic syndrome?
What are the treatment options available to me for treating my DVT?
Can blood thinners and compression stockings help me in temporarily treating my DVT?
Do I need to limit my physical activities until the clot is removed?
Treatment options & cost
There are certain non-invasive treatment options for treating a condition of deep vein thrombosis by preventing the blood clot from getting bigger or breaking loose and travelling to the lungs. Depending upon the severity of your condition, the doctor might prescribe a number medications or preventive gears that include:
- Blood thinners: A condition of DVT is usually treated with blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants. Although these drugs necessarily do not break up blood clots, they can prevent the clots from increasing in size and can reduce your risk of developing more clots.
- Compression stockings: You might consider wearing compression stockings to reduce the chances of developing blood clots and pools. These stockings can help in preventing the swelling and provide temporary relief to the symptoms caused by a condition of DVT.
- Thrombolytics/Clot busters: These are certain drugs that the doctor may prescribe in order to break the blood clots that are formed in the vessels. These are usually prescribed if you have a more serious condition of DVT that has led to pulmonary embolism or if the other medications are not working.
Insurance coverageSince DVT is a condition that is medically necessary to be treated, therefore its treatment is covered under insurance at Pristyn Care. Before you undergo the treatment, our insurance will check all your insurance related documents and inform you about the insurance coverage of the treatment. To learn more about the insurance-related formalities, you can get in touch with our coordinators.
Recovery rateThe recovery rate after undergoing a deep vein thrombosis surgery varies from patient to patient depending upon a number of factors such as the severity of the condition, postoperative precautions, properly following the doctor’s instructions and how the patient’s body reacts to the treatment.
In most cases, the pain and swelling caused by a condition of deep vein thrombosis usually starts to get better within a few days of the treatment and you can get back to your routine life within a week of the surgery. However, in some cases, a post-thrombotic syndrome may develop followed by symptoms like swelling, pain, and discoloration of the skin around the affected area.
Like any other case, surgeries do not necessarily end up solving the problem. Taking preventive measures play an equally important role in ensuring a faster recovery, ruling out the risks of any possible complications.
Long term outlook of the treatment
Approximately 60% of the patients recover from a deep vein thrombosis without any residual symptoms. However, the remaining 40% of the patients will experience post-thrombotic symptoms to an extent, out of which 4% will go through symptoms that can be severe.
Additional care and certain adjustments in lifestyle can ensure the best possible outcome of the treatment. Since there is an increased chance of the DVT returning within the initial six months or two years of receiving the treatment, taking adequate precautions during the recovery period plays an important role in determining the prognosis of a deep vein thrombosis.
Pristyn Care for the treament
Case Study
On 25th of August, a patient named Anant Tyagi, a man in his 30’s, was brought to us after he complained of suffering from excruciating pain that initially felt like a muscle spasm and gradually got a lot worse.
The patient was immediately consulted by one of our best doctors, Dr. Bhaskar M.V. Upon a thorough diagnosis, it was found out that he had a blood clot that moved up to his lung [pulmonary embolism], causing a part of the lung to collapse. The formation of the blood clot inside Anant’s legs was nothing but the result of a condition called Deep Vein Thrombosis. Dr. Bhaskar further carried out his diagnosis by conducting a series of tests and prescribed anticoagulants to slow down and prevent the formation of other clots. Anant says; “Never did I think that I would unknowingly suffer from such a severe and serious complication. It was only after consulting Dr. Bhaskar, that I got informed about the condition. After going through the treatment process, I feel I have just started living my life for my family.”
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FAQ
Is DVT a life-threatening condition?
If proper treatment is delayed, a DVT can turn into a life-threatening complication. As the clots continue to grow, it increases the chance of these clots to break loose and reach the lungs through the bloodstream. This leads to the development of a fatal complication which is known as a pulmonary embolism.
Can exercising help in improving the symptoms of DVT?
Yes. Exercising can significantly improve the symptoms of DVT. It helps in improving the blood circulation, preventing the formation of blood clots.
Can wearing compression stockings help in improving my symptoms of DVT?
Wearing compression stockings can help in increasing the blood flow and reduce the swelling in the affected area. Hence, wearing stockings can help in preventing the possible complications of a DVT to some extent.
Which doctor should I consult for treating my blood clots or DVT?
You should consider consulting a hematologist, radiologist or vascular surgeon to seek treatment for your blood clots or deep vein thrombosis.
Facts and statistics around Deep Vein Thrombosis:
- The earliest case of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was described by Sushruta in his book Sushruta Samhita around 600–900 BC.
- About 70% of all patients develop swelling , which is the primary warning sign of developing a DVT.
- In about 25% of people diagnosed with DVT, sudden death is the primary symptom caused due to a pulmonary embolism.
- March is considered as a national Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month, aimed at raising awareness of this commonly occurring medical condition and its potentially life-threatening complication, pulmonary embolism.
Why choose Pristyn Care for Deep Vein Thrombosis surgery?
- Pristyn Care houses some of the best vascular doctors in the country who have years of experience in performing effective laser treatment for diseases of venous insufficiency with a proven success rate.
- Pristyn Care is associated with the top hospitals in the country that are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities required to perform advanced surgeries for treating a condition of deep vein thrombosis.
- Vascular surgeons/Radiologists working with Pristyn Care do a thorough consultation in the case of every patient to understand the health condition before determining the best approach for your treatment.
- To ease out the commuting process for our patients, we also provide free cab facilities to bring you from home to the hospital and help you return back home after the surgery.
- Pristyn Care strives to make the whole surgical experience for every patient a seamless one. A dedicated ‘care buddy’ is assigned to every patient on the day of the surgery to provide the patient with a hassle-free experience to take care of all the formalities and paperwork on your behalf.
- Pristyn Care also provides a free cab facility to ensure proper treatment of the patient. You will be picked up from your home to the hospital and on the completion of your surgery, you will also be dropped off at home.
- A free-of-cost follow up is provided to every patient within the first seven days of the surgery.
How to book an appointment with vascular specialists at Pristyn Care?
Every surgery at Pristyn Care is done using the most advanced medical technology and equipment. Pristyn Care ensures that a patient has a care-filled and hassle-free experience. Being one of the leading health tech startups in India dedicated to simplifying the surgical experience of every patient, we provide end-to-end facilities to our patients and give complete assistance in their treatment journey. You can book an appointment and get in touch with our doctors virtually from the comfort of your home or anywhere by dialing on the given numbers or by filling up the ‘Book Appointment’ form below.
During the initial consultation, the doctor will have a detailed discussion and examine the condition of your deep vein thrombosis.
After a thorough assessment, the doctor will come up with the best treatment plan for you and take you through all the necessary steps to get your condition of DVT treated in the most effective way.
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