Blood Clots

Overview

Each year in the United States, there are approximately 900,000 cases of venous blood clots diagnosed. DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is the medical term for a blood clot in the leg vein, and PE (pulmonary embolism) is the medical term for a blood clot in the lungs. For a DVT, symptoms can include swelling, pain, and/or redness of the involved extremity. For a PE, symptoms can include chest pain, or shortness of breath. Some of the common risk factors for thrombosis include: immobility, certain types of surgery, congenital/inherited disorders, blood abnormalities found on blood testing, and malignancy. Diagnosis of DVT or PE is typically made with imaging studies (e.g. ultrasound or CT scan).

Treatment Options

Standard treatment of a venous blood clot is anticoagulation (use of “blood thinners”). There are various anticoagulants that can potentially be used as treatment. Evaluation by a physician will help determine which anticoagulant should be prescribed for an individual patient.

Blood Clot Specialists