Deep vein thrombosis

Deep Vein Thrombosis Microchapters
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Overview
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Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Deep vein thrombosis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
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Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Approach
Assessment of Clinical Probability and Risk Scores
Assessment of Probability of Subsequent VTE and Risk Scores
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
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Venography
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Upper extremity DVT
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Deep vein thrombosis
ICD-10	I80.2
ICD-9	453.40
DiseasesDB	3498
MeSH	D020246

WikiDoc Resources for Deep vein thrombosis
Articles
Most recent articles on Deep vein thrombosis Most cited articles on Deep vein thrombosis Review articles on Deep vein thrombosis Articles on Deep vein thrombosis in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Deep vein thrombosis Images of Deep vein thrombosis Photos of Deep vein thrombosis Podcasts & MP3s on Deep vein thrombosis Videos on Deep vein thrombosis
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Deep vein thrombosis Bandolier on Deep vein thrombosis TRIP on Deep vein thrombosis
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Deep vein thrombosis at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Deep vein thrombosis Clinical Trials on Deep vein thrombosis at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Deep vein thrombosis NICE Guidance on Deep vein thrombosis NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Deep vein thrombosis CDC on Deep vein thrombosis
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Deep vein thrombosis in the news Be alerted to news on Deep vein thrombosis News trends on Deep vein thrombosis
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Blogs on Deep vein thrombosis
Definitions
Definitions of Deep vein thrombosis
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Patient resources on Deep vein thrombosis Discussion groups on Deep vein thrombosis Patient Handouts on Deep vein thrombosis Directions to Hospitals Treating Deep vein thrombosis Risk calculators and risk factors for Deep vein thrombosis
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Symptoms of Deep vein thrombosis Causes & Risk Factors for Deep vein thrombosis Diagnostic studies for Deep vein thrombosis Treatment of Deep vein thrombosis
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Deep vein thrombosis en Espanol Deep vein thrombosis en Francais
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List of terms related to Deep vein thrombosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2] Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [3]

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention

Signs and symptoms

There may be no symptoms referrable to the location of the DVT, but the classical symptoms of DVT include pain, swelling and redness of the leg and dilation of the surface veins. In up to 25% of all hospitalized patients, there may be some form of DVT, which often remains clinically inapparent (unless pulmonary embolism develops).

There are several techniques during physical examination to increase the detection of DVT, such as measuring the circumference of the affected and the contralateral limb at a fixed point (to objectivate edema), and palpating the venous tract, which is often tender. Physical examination is unreliable for excluding the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

In phlegmasia alba dolens, the leg is pale and cool with a diminished arterial pulse due to spasm. It usually results from acute occlusion of the iliac and femoral veins due to DVT.

In phlegmasia cerulea dolens, there is an acute and nearly total venous occlusion of the entire extremity outflow, including the iliac and femoral veins. The leg is usually painful, cyanosed and oedematous. Venous gangrene may supervene.

It is vital that the possibility of pulmonary embolism be included in the history, as this may warrant further investigation (see pulmonary embolism).

A careful history has to be taken considering risk factors (see below), including the use of estrogen-containing methods of hormonal contraception, recent long-haul flying, and a history of miscarriage (which is a feature of several disorders that can also cause thrombosis). A family history can reveal a hereditary factor in the development of DVT.

• Deep venous thrombosis

  Deep venous thrombosis

• Deep venous thrombosis

  Deep venous thrombosis

• Deep venous thrombosis

  Deep venous thrombosis

Imaging the leg veins

Impedance plethysmography, Doppler ultrasonography, compression ultrasound scanning of the leg veins, combined with duplex measurements (to determine blood flow), can reveal a blood clot and its extent (i.e. whether it is below or above the knee).

Examples

Images courtesy of RadsWiki

• Example #1: CT images: DVT at left leg

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• Example #2: 2D TOF GRE MRV images: Bilateral deep vein thromboses

Images courtesy of RadsWiki

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See also

• Venogram (medical)