What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the leg. Early assessment matters because a clot may extend or travel to the lungs. Treatment depends on the clot location, symptoms, risk factors and bleeding risk.
A DVT consultation requires the Doppler report, symptom start date, recent travel or surgery history, current medicines and any past clotting events. Sudden breathlessness, chest pain, fainting or coughing blood is an emergency and should not wait for an outpatient appointment.
Why Deep Vein Thrombosis Happens
Deep vein thrombosis forms when blood flow slows, the vein wall is injured or the blood becomes more prone to clotting. Surgery, hospital admission, cancer, pregnancy, hormone medicines, long immobility, major injury and a previous clot can increase risk. Sometimes several smaller risks act together, and occasionally no obvious trigger is found.
Who May Be More at Risk?
Previous DVT or pulmonary embolism, recent surgery, prolonged bed rest or travel, active cancer, pregnancy and the weeks after delivery, oestrogen-containing medicines, inherited clotting disorders and increasing age are recognised risk factors. Individual bleeding risk also matters when selecting anticoagulation.
Common signs and symptoms
- Sudden one-sided leg swelling
- Calf or thigh pain
- Warmth or redness
- Unexplained breathlessness or chest pain
How it may be evaluated
- Urgent clinical assessment
- Venous Doppler ultrasound
- Blood tests when appropriate
- Review of clotting risks and medicines
Treatment options
- Anticoagulant medication
- Compression when advised
- Catheter-based treatment in selected cases
- Follow-up for post-thrombotic symptoms
What Can Help Before and After Treatment?
Do not massage a newly swollen painful leg or self-start blood thinners. Follow the prescribed anticoagulant plan, stay appropriately mobile when advised, keep follow-up appointments and discuss compression with the treating doctor. Prevention during future surgery, pregnancy or travel may need an individual plan.
What Can Happen Without Appropriate Care?
An untreated DVT can extend, damage deep-vein valves or travel to the lungs as a pulmonary embolism. Later, some people develop post-thrombotic syndrome with chronic swelling, heaviness, pigmentation or ulcers. Prompt diagnosis is important because leg symptoms alone cannot reliably confirm or exclude a clot.
