Deep Vein Thrombosis
Definition:
"Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which blood clots form in a deep vein within the body. The word thrombus means forming a blood clot."
- YourMedicalSource.com
The danger of a DVT is that the clot has the potential to be quite large and can become detatched from its position on the wall of the vein. Once this has occurred, it will travel through the vein to the lung, which can become blocked.This condition is known as a pulmonary embolism and can be fatal.
Risk Factors:
The three principle factors of DVT's are as follows:
1. venous stasis (blood flow that has been slowed or stopped)
2. injury to blood vessel wall
3. hypercoagubility (increased blood clotting)

additional causes are listed below:
immobiliztion (for a significant period of time), surgical procedure, having undergone a trauma, increased age, malignancy (a cancerous tumor), heart failure, history of DVT, pregnancy, use of an oral contraceptive
The risk of a DVT is increased with the following factors, but they cannot be the sole cause of a DVT:
obesiety, diabetes, tobacco smoking
Diagnosis:
A DVT is suspected when a patient feels a sharp pain as his or her foot is flexed upwards or when a portion of the patient's calf is red or swollen.
Certain diagnosises include ultrasound, venography, blood test coagubility among others.
Treatment:
bed rest with leg elevation, compression stockings, anticoagulants(to prevent the development of more clots), thrombolytic agents(to break up clots), surgery to remove the clot(as a last resort)
www.sirweb.org/.../DVT_normal_and _embolus.gif
Deep vein thrombosises are related to the abnormal coagulation  of blood. In such an instance, a thrombus forms when it should not be created or when the blood is unable to dissolve a fromed clot that is no longer of use.
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