Deep Vein Thrombosis (cont.)
When should I seek medical care for deep vein thrombosis?
The diagnosis of a superficial or deep thrombosis often relies on the
clinical skill of the healthcare provider. Diagnostic tests need to be tailored to
each situation.
Leg swelling, redness, and pain may be indicators of a blood clot and should
not be ignored. These symptoms may be due to other causes (for example,
cellulitis or infection), but it may be difficult to make the diagnosis without
seeking medical advice.
If there is associated chest pain or shortness of breath, then further
concern exists that a pulmonary embolus may be the cause. Once again, seeking
immediate advice is appropriate.
How is deep vein thrombosis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of superficial thrombophlebitis is made clinically.
Ultrasound is now the standard method of diagnosing the presence of a
deep vein thrombosis.
The ultrasound technician may be able to determine whether a clot exists, where
it is located in the leg, and how large it is. Ultrasounds can be compared over
time to see whether a clot has grown or resolved. Ultrasound is better at
"seeing" veins above the knee as compared to the veins below it.
Venography, injecting dye into the veins to look for a thrombus, is not
usually performed any more and has become more of a historical footnote.
D-dimer is a blood test that may be used as a screening test to determine if
a blood clot exists. D-dimer is a chemical that is produced when a blood clot in
the body gradually dissolves. The test is used as a positive or negative
indicator. If the result is negative, then no blood clot exists. If the D-dimer
test is positive, it does not necessarily mean that a deep vein thrombosis is present since many
situations will have an expected positive result (for example, from surgery, a fall,
or
pregnancy). For that reason, D-dimer testing must be used selectively.
Other blood testing may be considered based on the potential cause for the
deep vein thrombosis.
Next: What is the treatment for deep vein thrombosis? »
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