Deep vein thrombosis overview
Editors-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. Associate Editor-In-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [1]
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Overview
Deep-vein thrombosis (also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT and colloquially as economy class syndrome) is the formation of a blood clot ("thrombus") in a deep vein.
DVT of the lower extremity is subdivided into two categories:
- Distal (calf) vein thrombosis, in which thrombi remain confined to the deep calf veins
- Proximal vein thrombosis, in which thrombosis involves the popliteal, femoral, or iliac veins
Occasionally the veins of the arm are also affected (known as Paget-Schrötter disease). Thrombophlebitis is swelling (inflammation) of a vein caused by a blood clot. There is a significant risk, when a thrombus embolize and travel to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism.
Upper extremity DVT is less common but also may lead to PE, especially in the presence of a venous catheter.