Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a small blood clot forms, mainly in the deep veins of the legs, as a result of a slowing down of blood flow in the legs back to the heart. DVT may occur as a result of inactivity and can result in blood clots forming in the calves.
Such clots can be present without signs or symptom, but may give rise to swelling of the infected leg, at such times accompanied by pain (particularly when the foot is flexed hard upwards) and local tenderness.
Deep vein thrombosis is not dangerous in itself, but complications arising from it may be occasionally life threatening. Complications occur when a thrombus breaks away from the wall of the vein to which it is attached and is carried along with the flow of blood, this is termed an embolus.
If the embolus reaches a blood vessel through which it cannot pass, it bocks the vessel. The consequence of such a blockage is called an embolism. The most serious of these occurs in the lungs (a pulmonary embolism) giving rise to chest pain and breathing difficulties and, in worst cases, death from respiratory failure.