Gradually increasing swelling of the leg starting from calf, thighs and sometimes lower abdomen. In advance stages, it may cause severe pain, inability to walk, bluish discoloration of toes.

DVT is a serious condition and a vascular surgeon should be consulted at the earliest. In earlier stages, it is easier to manage DVT.

Usually simple sonography of the leg (a color doppler scan) gives a fair idea about the extent of the thrombosis in leg veins.

Mild form of DVT can be treated with medicines and injections (blood thinners) and it may not require hospitalization. Severe form of DVT requires hospitalization and a procedure called Catheter Directed Thrombolysis (CDT). It is an endovascular (Key hole) procedure that is done without cuts and sutures.

There are range of medicines called anticoagulants that are used in the treatment of DVT which should only be taken under proper medical supervision.

Newer oral anticoagulants (NOACS), Eg- Rivoraxaban, Apixaban, Dabigatran have largely replaced older medications like Warfarin. These newer medications are more effective and does not need repeated blood tests to monitor their efficacy. However, they are not safe for use during pregnancy or lactation.

In most case the treatment given is for 3 to 4 months. However the duration varies on the basis of various factors and should be done under the supervision of an expert vascular surgeon.

CDT is usually done in an angiography suite where a small tube is passed in the veins and all the clots are removed with that some special injections are given in that catheter to dissolve the clots.

Usually CDT is a safe procedure, very rarely a clot migration is noticed.

Usually, CDT requires hospitalization of 2-5 days.

Compression stockings are advised for 3-12 months. Check sonography is done from time to time. Specific exercises are advised to most DVT patients.

NO. Do not become pregnant while you are on anticoagulation. If so, report to your doctor immediately. If you are planning for pregnancy you have to be off anticoagulation for at least -3 months under the guidance of your doctor. Attention: This medication may cause birth defects and severe bleeding in the foetus during the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy.