Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities

The lower limbs of a person have an extensive venous network, which provides the outflow of venous blood into the lower vena cava. There are three types of venous vessels of the legs: superficial, deep and connecting communicative veins. Normally, the venous blood through the surface vessels through the communicates flow into the deep veins, from which it enters the hollow vein and further into the heart. Venous valves provide a one-way direction of blood flow. If, due to any reason, the valve's consistency is impaired, blood stagnation occurs in the vessels and varicose dilatation occurs. With this disease a person can live for years.

A more dangerous disease is deep vein thrombosis. It is the formation of thrombi in the lumen of the vessels of the legs or pelvis. These phenomena are accompanied by inflammation of the venous wall, a strong pain syndrome and a violation of blood flow. Deep vein thrombosis can be complicated by a life threatening condition - pulmonary embolism.

Causes of the disease

The onset of the disease is facilitated by traumatic damage to the wall, stagnation of venous blood, overweight, pregnancy, sedentary lifestyle, inflammatory veins and bacterial infections, some medications (contraceptives), tumors, age over forty, clotting disorders.

As a result of the slowing of the blood flow, a thrombus is formed, which mainly consists of red blood cells and platelets. The formed thrombus can be firmly attached to the venous wall with one end, the other end of which is freely located in the lumen of the vessel. Thrombi can reach a large extent, partially or completely blocking the lumen of the vein.

Clinical manifestations of the disease

As already mentioned above, the stasis of blood causes deep vein thrombosis. Symptoms of the disease are expressed in the appearance of acute and flushing pain in the affected limb, persistent edema and a feeling of warmth. Inflammation of the venous wall is often accompanied by an increase in temperature. The thrombosed limb is cold to the touch, rather than healthy. Externally, the leg is edematous, hyperemic. The skin in the area of the affected area is nasty and shiny, with a well-defined venous network. Often, deep vein thrombosis is already initially manifested by embolism of the arteries of the lungs with clots that have detached from the vessels. The patient thus experiences severe pain in the chest, he has a paroxysmal cough with blood, blood pressure drops. Blockage of large pulmonary vessels often leads to death. If there was a thrombosis of the vessels of the pelvis, there may be a clinic of intestinal obstruction.

Diagnostic measures

The diagnosis "Deep Vein Thrombosis", is exposed on the basis of complaints, local manifestations and diagnostic examination data. There are a number of symptoms on the basis of which it is possible to diagnose deep vein thrombosis of the shin. These are symptoms of Pratt, Homans, Payra and others.

Of the instrumental methods can be noted ultrasound, dopplerography, angiography.

The disease is differentiated with lymphostasis, erysipelas, muscle stretching.

Treatment of thrombosis

Uncomplicated forms of thrombosis of the lower leg, are treated on an outpatient basis. The remaining cases require inpatient treatment. The patient is required to comply with strict bed rest with a raised position of the diseased leg. Thermal procedures are contraindicated. Appointed anticoagulants (drugs "Heparin", "Fraksiparin", "Clexane", etc.) and disaggregants ("Trental", "Curantil"), under the control of clotting. Introduce pain medication, it is possible to blockade with novocaine.

With more severe forms of thrombosis, surgery is indicated (removal of the thrombus, installation of the venous filter in the vena cava, etc.).