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A video visit with your doctor can be scheduled through MyChart. This offers the same high quality healthcare expertise from your doctor, with the added convenience of not having to travel to the doctor’s office.
Some veins sit deeper inside your body, including many of those in your legs. When a blood clot forms in these veins, a condition called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, occurs. If you have symptoms such as leg pain or swelling, our doctors provide expert diagnosis and treatment to help you feel better.
A video visit with your doctor can be scheduled through MyChart. This offers the same high quality healthcare expertise from your doctor, with the added convenience of not having to travel to the doctor’s office.
Schedule an appointment with a vascular surgeon today.
At Henry Ford, our vascular specialists and interventional radiologists have extensive training and experience in vascular conditions such as deep vein thrombosis. We’re experts at determining the right treatment – at the right time – to help you return to a healthy, active life.
People come to Henry Ford because we offer:
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) develops when a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside the body, usually in your legs. Without treatment, DVT can become serious if the clot breaks off and travels to a critical area such as the brain, heart or lungs. A blood clot in the lungs results in a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism (PE).
Blood clots can result from anything that slows blood flow in deep veins or prevents blood from clotting the way it should.
Sometimes, DVT shows no symptoms until a serious complication happens. When symptoms do appear, they usually affect one leg. The signs and symptoms typically affect the area where the clot forms and can include:
If you have DVT symptoms, you’ll typically see one of our specialists in vascular disease for a comprehensive evaluation. Your first visit usually includes:
You’ll likely need one or more tests so that we can rule out other conditions and confirm a diagnosis. In our nationally accredited vascular testing labs, our certified imaging technologists provide excellent results using the latest equipment. Tests that you may need include:
Your treatment options vary and depend on the severity of the blood clots. Specialists at Henry Ford have expertise in the full range of treatments, from medications to minimally invasive procedures. We work closely with you to find the right treatments, based on your specific health needs.
DVT treatment aims to:
For small clots, our vascular medicine specialists usually begin with noninvasive treatment such as medications and monitoring. You may need one or a combination of these treatments:
For larger clots or those close to the lungs, our vascular team coordinates your care with Henry Ford interventional radiologists. These specialists are experts in minimally invasive procedures to remove clots or widen narrowed or blocked veins.
Vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists use endovascular treatments, which go inside veins and only require a small incision. Most people can go home the same day or the next. A minimally invasive procedure can help you heal faster, with less pain and an easier recovery.
Your minimally invasive treatment options include:
In rare cases, you may need open surgery for DVT. Your vascular surgeon takes a healthy vein from elsewhere in your body and attaches it above and below the blocked section.
Known as vein bypass surgery, this procedure sends blood around the blockage for improved blood flow. Learn more about our skilled vascular surgery team.
Even after treatment, DVT can cause circulation problems in your legs. If DVT damages veins, it can lead to post-thrombotic syndrome, also known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). People with this condition have reduced blood flow in affected veins.
Depending on what caused the DVT and your overall health, you will likely need to continue taking blood thinners for a certain period of time. Our vascular medicine specialists provide ongoing care to manage your health and prevent another DVT or a complication such as CVI.
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