DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis) and Pulmonary Embolus

DVT refers to clot forming in the veins usually involving the legs but they can also develop in the arms as well.   Blood clots when it is not moving, putting folks at greatest risk when we take that road trip to San Antonio and fail to stop at Buckees or the Texas rest stops along the way.  We often find clot forming when we fly nonstop from Dallas to Hawaii without the frequent onboard scuffle, or when we try to abstain from frequent walks to the bar for refreshments.  This condition also occurs while we are asleep and not moving while having surgery.   Clot often forms in association with exposure of blood to foreign material (not referring to your neighbor, but rather IV catheters PICCs , Midis and Pacemaker wires).  They can present with swelling of the arm or leg and can be painful.  

The problem is not so much that the venous outflow is impaired, as the body quickly reroutes blood return through other side streets, but rather that the clot can grow, break off and travel to the lung.   The deep veins of the thigh and pelvis are large and a clot released from the pelvic veins can obstruct blood flow through the lungs causing an early demise.  DVT has been traditionally treated with anticoagulants which contrary to intuition, do not dissolve the clot, but simply discourage the clot from growing.  Thus, once taking anticoagulants, the risk of a clot breaking loose and traveling does not immediately diminish.   For “extensive” clot extending through the thigh and pelvis, there is now a minimally invasive innovative technology for removing the clots, significantly decreasing the risk of a Pulmonary Embolus. The procedure is quick, virtually painless and performed through an IV catheter.

Once the clot has broken loose, it travels to the lung.   If a small amount of clot breaks loose, the lung can dissolve it, as the lung produces a large amount of clot dissolving proteins.   If the amount of clot is moderate, obstructing major branches, the patient may experience sudden chest pain and shortness of breath.   If the clot is large and major trunks are plugged, the heart can fail to adequately pump blood through the lungs and the patient can experience a life changing event.  In the cases of larger pulmonary emboli, there is now minimally invasive innovative technology available that can remove large amounts of clot that have traveled to the lung all through a IV catheter.   When successful, the patient can resume normal activity the next day.   If you or someone you know has experienced a pulmonary embolus recently and has trouble breathing, please feel free to contact our office for more information about this new technology.