A thrombosis is an abnormal blood clot that has formed inside of any vein or artery and is big enough to restrict blood flow.  They can be dangerous/deadly if a part breaks off and travels to other areas of the body or completely blocks blood flow.  A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that has formed in a bigger vein, usually in the legs.  A superficial vein thrombosis is a blood clot that has formed in a vein close to the surface of the skin, most of the time an arm or leg.

 

What is a blood clot?
A blood clot is a mass of blood cells, platelets and clotting proteins that is normally made by the body after an injury to stop bleeding.  However, blood clots can also form for other reasons such as poor blood flow, taking certain medications, having other medical conditions that have a high risk for the blood to clot and having other risk factors that increase the risk for the blood to clot.  When a blood clot is made abnormally or grows bigger than normal, it causes a problem with blood flow, preventing the transportation of oxygen.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  • Cramping pain
  • Redness or discolored skin
  • Swelling
  • Warm or hot to touch

 

Signs and Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism: 

  • Difficulty breathing
  • High heart rate
  • Chest pain that worsens with breathing
  • Cough, sometimes with blood
  • Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

 

Sign and Symptoms of an Arterial Thrombosis Include:

  • Heart attack
  • Chest Pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness

 

Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

  • Facial drooping on one side
  • Weakness on one side of body
  • Slurred speech
  • Pain, discoloration (pale or blue) and coldness of arm or leg
  • Signs of Pulmonary Embolism
  • Difficulty breathing
  • High heart rate
  • Chest pain that worsens with breathing
  • Cough, sometimes with blood
  • Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

RISK FACTORS

Risk Factors for Venous Thrombosis:
  • Surgeries
  • Pregnancy
  • Birth control pills
  • IV lines (central lines)
  • Broken bones
  • Family history (Genetics)
  • Smoking
  • Sitting for long periods
  • Lack of exercise
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Cancer
  • Obesity

 

Risk Factors for Arterial Thrombosis:

  • Hardening of arteries
  • Smoking
  • Poor diet
  • Lack of exercise
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Alcoholism
  • Strokes
  • Heart attacks
  • Limb damage
  • Damage to organs

TREATMENT

The treatment for Thrombosis depends on many things. The treatment team works carefully with patients and families to decide what the best treatment plan is. The following are treatments for thrombosis:

  • Clot buster medications to break up the clot so blood can flow again
  • Surgery to remove the blood clot(s)
  • Medications called anticoagulants prevent clots from getting bigger and new blood clots from being made.  Click here to learn more about thrombosis medications.

COMPLICATIONS

  • Damage to the veins
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Ulcer sores
  • Embolism (part of the clot breaking off and moving to lungs, heart or brain)
  • Stroke