About this disease
What it is about
Thromboses are blood clots that form in the veins and partially or completely block them. They occur most frequently in the legs. Although superficial veins can also become clogged, it is the deep veins of the legs that are clinically relevant, as the clots can lead to potentially dangerous pulmonary embolisms. Risk factors for leg vein thrombosis include immobilization during illness or after surgery, coagulopathy, cancer, and smoking. Often, however, no specific reason is found.
Types
Depending on the level of leg vein thrombosis, a distinction is made between iliac vein thrombosis, femoral vein thrombosis, popliteal vein thrombosis, and tibial vein thrombosis.
Symptoms and consequences
Smaller thromboses often progress without symptoms. Since the most common symptomatic thromboses occur in the legs, they usually present with the following complaints: Feeling of heaviness in the legs; swelling of the ankles, lower legs or the whole leg; redness, swelling and tightness of the skin; feeling of tightness and pain in the foot, calf or leg, which improves with elevation; feeling of warmth and overheating of the affected leg.
What we do for you
Examination and diagnosis
At the beginning, the physical examination takes place, during which certain pain points are tested. A blood test can rule out thrombosis quite reliably, so that no further examinations are necessary. If the so-called D-dimer value is elevated, however, this does not necessarily mean that a thrombosis is present. Detection of thrombosis is done by duplex sonography, an ultrasound examination of the vessels.
Treatment
The most important goal is to prevent pulmonary embolism. For this purpose, blood-thinning drugs are used, some of which must be administered as injections and some of which can be given as tablets. Depending on the risk constellation, the drugs must be taken for several months and in some cases even for life.