Medically Reviewed by Luke Stewart, MD

According to the American Heart Association, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects as many as 900,000 people annually. McLeod Vascular Surgeon Dr. Luke Stewart explains why DVT can be life-threatening unless properly diagnosed and treated.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is essentially a blood clot that forms in one of the deeper, larger veins of the body. It can be dangerous depending on the location, and the main risk is that part of the clot could break off and go up to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.

The symptoms of DVT can range from leg swelling to arm swelling if it’s in the upper extremity, to pain in the calf or some slight color change in the legs like a bluish color. The main patients at risk are those with a history of clotting, patients with cancer are at higher risk of forming blood clots, and patients with a strong family history of blood clot. Preventive measures include remaining active and knowing if you have any family history of clotting. If you have a clotting disorder, then take your medication as instructed. 

The most common treatment for DVT is a short course of anticoagulation or blood thinner. Patients who have had recent episodes of bleeding or major surgery are at higher risk of bleeding – things like a recent head bleed or bleeding in your GI tract. Essentially, for patients who are unable to safely take blood thinner without having a high risk of bleeding, we don’t put on blood thinner or anticoagulation. The treatment options for DVT really depend on the symptoms. If you cannot receive blood thinners, but you have DVT and are at risk of having a pulmonary embolism, sometimes we put in special filters called IVC filters that are temporary and can be removed when you’re no longer at risk of pulmonary embolism.

To learn more about deep vein thrombosis, speak with a heart and vascular specialist near you.