As many as three out of every 1,000 Americans will develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or an associated condition at some point in their lives.
DVT is a serious medical condition that can lead to other life-threatening complications. Knowing how to recognize its symptoms and effects is essential to receiving appropriate medical care. Furthermore, you may have a legal right to compensation if your healthcare provider fails to diagnose or treat your DVT appropriately. Below is everything you need to know.
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What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which a blood clot forms within the deep veins of your body. The body’s deep veins are not to be confused with its superficial veins, which run just under the surface of the skin. Instead, deep veins are found far within your muscle tissue, typically along your bones and near your major arteries.
Still, like superficial veins, deep veins are part of your circulatory system. They transport oxygen-deficient blood from your extremities back to your heart. Your body’s muscles squeeze around your deep veins, pushing blood through your veins. They also feature one-way valves that help keep blood from flowing backward between muscle contractions.
A blood clot is a collection of blood platelets, proteins, and cells that occasionally form in areas throughout the body, including deep veins. Clotting can be helpful when you suffer a cut on your skin, as it will help stop the bleeding.
However, clots can be a medical emergency when they interfere with your circulation. When they form in your circulatory system, these clots are called thromboses. Thus, DVT simply describes a blood clot that has formed somewhere in the deep veins of the circulatory system.
Risk Factors and Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Several circumstances can lead to the development of DVT, such as having a family history of blood clots, living a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and being overweight. Clots are also more common in people over the age of 60 than they are in children and younger adults.
However, there are also DVT risk factors that can arise because of others’ actions. For example, a clot may develop in your leg due to an injury you sustained during surgery. Such an injury might occur if your surgeon did not provide you with their full attention during your procedure or if another member of the medical team committed a negligent act.
You are also at an increased risk of DVT if you are confined to a hospital (or any other) bed for a prolonged period. Because of that, your nursing team should inform you of ways to promote blood flow in your legs while you recover. These ways could include wearing compression stockings, stretching in bed, and changing positions often.
What Are the Dangers of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
The primary danger of DVT is that the resulting blood clot can travel to the lungs through the deep venous system and cause a pulmonary embolism (PE), a blockage in the pulmonary arteries that supply blood to the lungs. A PE can be fatal if it is not diagnosed and resolved quickly.
Nevertheless, DVT can be dangerous even if the clot never leaves your leg. The prolonged blockage of a major part of your circulatory system can lead to pain and swelling in the affected body part, a condition known as post-thrombotic syndrome. Eczema, skin ulcers, and infections can also occur if DVT is left untreated.
What Are the Symptoms of DVT?
Not every person who develops DVT will experience symptoms right away, if at all. Some patients are outright unaware they have DVT until they develop a pulmonary embolism.
Your doctor cannot diagnose you with DVT absent an ultrasound.
However, if you notice any of the following symptoms of DVT, you must not ignore them:
- Swelling in your leg, especially around the back of it
- Throbbing, aching, or other pain in your calf or thigh
- A reddish or bluish tint to the skin
- Warm, tender skin near the area where you are experiencing pain
If you suspect or notice any of these DVT symptoms, you should visit a medical professional as quickly as possible.
You should seek immediate emergency care if you note any of the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in your chest when breathing deeply or coughing
- Dizziness and fainting
- Rapid pulse and breathing
- Coughing up blood
These symptoms are associated with pulmonary embolisms and must be addressed without delay.
Diagnosis and Treatment For DVT
Although your physical symptoms might suggest you have DVT, your doctor must perform an ultrasound before making an official diagnosis. Alternatively, your medical provider may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, a specialized blood test, or a specific X-ray test involving dyes called a venography.
The goal of treatment is to dissolve the clot and restore blood flow. Simply restoring circulation is not enough, as it can allow the clot to travel into your pulmonary arteries. Therefore, any course of treatment is likely to involve anticoagulants and other medications. Together, these medicines break up your clot and prevent others from forming.
However, some patients may not be able to receive certain medications, or their DVT might not respond to them. In these circumstances, doctors may need to surgically insert a mesh screen into a major vein above the location of the clot, the purpose of which is to prevent the clot from reaching your heart or lungs if it dislodges.
What Are the Legal Rights of Patients With DVT?
A DVT diagnosis can result from negligent acts by your doctor or medical team. In these cases, you may have the right to file a medical malpractice action against your provider and recover compensation.
The money you receive can be used to help cover the following:
- Medical expenses, including medications and additional procedures
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, including mental trauma
Successful medical malpractice DVT cases require you to prove that your DVT resulted from objectively deficient medical care. You may also have a claim for compensation if your medical provider failed to diagnose your DVT and you later suffered a pulmonary embolism or other complication.
An experienced California medical malpractice attorney will review your medical records and other available evidence. From there, they will evaluate the quality of care you received and whether it supports a legal claim.
Contact Our San Diego Personal Injury Lawyers For Help With a DVT Injury Claim
If you were diagnosed with DVT, a PE, or any related complications and believe your medical provider was to blame, contact Mission Personal Injury Lawyers right away. Our experienced San Diego medical malpractice lawyers will devote themselves to arguing your case and helping you receive the compensation you deserve for your DVT injuries. Contact our law office in San Diego or call us at (619) 777-5555.
