Question: What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Answer: Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot in a deep vein. Deep veins are veins that travel deep in the body and are usually surrounded by muscle. Deep vein thrombosis is a more serious condition than superficial venous thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a superficial vein close to the skin surface, because of the risk of a pulmonary embolism (PE).
Pulmonary embolisms are life threatening conditions. A pulmonary embolism can occur when the blood clot in a deep vein breaks off and travels to the lungs. Blood clots in superficial veins do not travel to the lungs so there is no risk of pulmonary embolism.
Deep Vein Thrombosis usually occurs in the legs and pelvis. However it can occur in any deep vein. Deep Vein Thrombosis in the upper arms is referred to as Paget-Schroetter disease.
Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis is technically easy, but due to the nature of the causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis practical prevention can be tricky.
