![]() ![]() If no blood clot is found, your healthcare provider will look for other possible causes of pain and swelling in your legs. It can help block a thrombus from reaching your lungs. Thrombolytics are very strong and can cause bleeding problems in some people.Ī special umbrella-shaped filter may be inserted into the large vein, called the vena cava, in your abdomen. These drugs, which are given intravenously or with a catheter inserted directly into a blood vessel, help break up existing clots. They may be required indefinitely if you have other medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, that put you at a higher risk for future blood clots.ĭifferent drugs, called thrombolytics or “clot busters,” may be given in more serious cases. Stronger anticoagulants, such as heparin, may be injected into your bloodstream.Īnticoagulants may be required for a few months. Instead, they may help keep an existing clot from growing larger. These include warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis), and others.Īnticoagulants, also known as “blood thinners,” won’t break up an existing clot. A smaller clot that doesn’t appear to be at risk of becoming a PE may be treated with anticoagulant drugs. If you’ve been diagnosed with a DVT, the goal of treatment is to keep the thrombus from getting bigger or moving to the lungs. If you have a DVT, you may have an elevated level of a substance in your blood known as “ D-dimer.” An X-ray then highlights the flow of the dyed blood through the vein suspected of having a clot.Ī blood test may also be ordered. Venography : Venography is a test that uses a special dye that’s injected into a large vein.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses a large magnetic field and radio frequencies to show detailed pictures of blood vessels and soft tissue.Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan test uses special X-ray and computer equipment to create three-dimensional scans of the blood vessels.These scans measure where the blood flows in your lungs and how well it’s flowing. Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (VQ) scan: A VQ scan is a series of two lung scans.If an ultrasound can’t provide a definitive diagnosis, other screenings may be necessary. It can be life threatening.Īn ultrasound is used more than other types of imaging tests when a DVT is suspected. A blood clot that moves to the heart and then into the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). If the DVT doesn’t appear to be a threat, you may have a few more ultrasounds to see if the thrombus is growing or moving.Ī thrombus that moves toward the heart can be a serious health risk. Your healthcare provider will then decide whether any treatment is necessary that day. ![]() The procedure should take less than 30 minutes.Īfter the test, the ultrasound gel will be cleaned off of your leg. The person doing the ultrasound may want to get a few angles of the DVT to better understand its size and location. When a DVT is identified, a still picture of it can be made. The waves form images that appear on a computer screen nearby. The probe is moved slowly and gently across your leg, allowing sound waves to penetrate the skin to the blood vessels and tissue underneath. Any space between the probe and the skin would cause the images to be lost. It forms a bond between the skin and the probe, making it easier for the sound waves to reach the blood vessels under the skin. Ultrasound gel will be rubbed across a wide area of your leg. The head of the bed should be at a 30- to 45-degree angle to help force more blood flow down to your legs.ĭepending on where the clot is likely to be, you’ll rest your leg at an angle that’s comfortable for you, but also allows the ultrasound technician or the doctor to move the ultrasound “wand” or probe easily on the surface of your leg.Ī common location for DVT is behind the knee, but a clot can form in any of the deep blood vessels. Only the leg being evaluated will be exposed. Unlike an X-ray, for example, an ultrasound does not use any radiation.ĭuring an ultrasound procedure, you’ll wear a hospital gown and be covered by a sheet. This decision is often made in an emergency room when a person arrives with DVT symptoms.Īn ultrasound uses sound waves to create moving images of blood flowing through your veins and arteries. Based on your symptoms and your medical history, your healthcare provider may recommend an ultrasound or another test to help diagnose a suspected DVT. ![]()
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