Pregnancy SmartSiteTM
DVT - discharge; Blood clot in the legs - discharge; Thromboembolism - discharge; Venous thromboembolism - deep vein thrombosis; Post-phlebitic syndrome - discharge; Post-thrombotic syndrome - discharge DefinitionYou were treated for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein that is not on or near the surface of the body. It mainly affects the large veins in the lower leg and thigh. The clot can block blood flow. If the clot breaks off and moves through the bloodstream, it can get stuck in the blood vessels in the lungs. Self-careWear the pressure stockings if prescribed by your healthcare provider. They may improve blood flow in your legs and may lower your risk for long-term complications and problems with blood clots.
Your provider may give you medicine to thin your blood to help keep more clots from forming. The drugs warfarin (Coumadin), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis) are examples of blood thinners. If you're prescribed a blood thinner:
Ask your provider what exercises and other activities are safe for you to do. Do not sit or lie down in the same position for long periods.
If swelling is a problem, keep your legs resting above your heart. When sleeping, make the foot of the bed a few inches higher than the head of the bed. When traveling:
Do not smoke. If you do, ask your provider for help quitting. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups (1.5 to 2 liters) of liquid a day, if your provider says it is OK. Use less salt.
When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if:
ReferencesAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality website. Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Blood Clots. www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/prevention/disease/bloodclots.html#. Updated August 2017. Accessed July 1, 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots). www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html. Updated June 9, 2022. Accessed July 1, 2022. Kearon C, Akl EA, Ornelas J, et al. Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease: CHEST guideline and expert panel report. Chest. 2016;149(2):315-352. PMID: 26867832 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26867832/. Kline JA. Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 78. | ||
| ||
Review Date: 1/25/2022 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. | ||
A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser. |