CONDITIONS › DVT & PULMONARY EMBOLISM
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) & Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
A blood clot in a deep vein — usually in the leg — can cause pain and swelling, and can break loose and travel to the lungs (a pulmonary embolism), which is an emergency. Both are highly treatable, and prompt care lowers the risk of lasting harm.
What it is
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a clot in one of the deep veins, most often in the calf or thigh. If part of that clot breaks free, it can travel to the lungs and block blood flow — a pulmonary embolism (PE). Together, DVT and PE are called venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Warning signs
DVT (leg)
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Swelling in one leg, often with aching or tenderness
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Warmth and redness over the area
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Calf pain that may worsen with walking
PE (lungs) — call 911
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Sudden shortness of breath
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Chest pain, often sharper with a deep breath
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Rapid heartbeat, coughing (sometimes blood), lightheadedness or fainting
Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or fainting can mean a clot has reached the lungs — call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Why it matters
Risk Factors
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Clots form when blood flow slows, the vessel wall is injured, or the blood is more prone to clotting — usually some combination. Whether a clot was provoked by a temporary cause or was unprovoked is the single most important thing about it, because it decides how long you stay on a blood thinner.
Temporary (provoked)
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Surgery, particularly orthopedic; trauma or a cast
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Hospitalization or prolonged immobility; long travel
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Pregnancy and the postpartum period; estrogen therapy or oral contraceptives
Persistent
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Active cancer and many cancer treatments
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Inherited or acquired clotting disorders; prior VTE
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Obesity; older age; heart failure
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Iliac vein compression, which can set off a left-leg clot in an otherwise low-risk person →
Diagnostic Testing
A compression ultrasound is the first-line test for DVT and is highly accurate for clots in the thigh and pelvis. We pair it with clinical scoring and D-dimer when helpful, and use CT imaging to evaluate a suspected pulmonary embolism or a clot higher up in the pelvic veins.
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Compression ultrasound of the leg Venous ultrasound →
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D-dimer and clinical probability scoring, used together rather than alone.
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CT pulmonary angiography when PE is suspected.
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IVUS or CT/MR venography when an iliac cause is suspected Diagnostic Imaging →
Treatment options
Medical & conservative therapy
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Anticoagulation (blood thinners) is the foundation for nearly all DVT and PE — most often a direct oral anticoagulant. How long you stay on it depends on whether the clot had a temporary cause or was unprovoked. Medical Therapy →
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Compression and early walking for leg symptoms, once a clot has been confirmed and treated.
Invasive Treatment
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Clot-removal procedures — for an extensive leg clot or a pulmonary embolism straining the heart, we can dissolve or remove the clot through a catheter. Dissolving a clot with medicine infused over hours means an overnight stay; removing it mechanically often does not. DVT & PE Intervention →
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IVC filter — when blood thinners can't be used safely, a filter can catch clots before they reach the lungs. IVC Filter →
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Treating the underlying vein — when a narrowing or May-Thurner compression set off the clot, reopening it with a stent helps keep it from coming back. Deep Venous Stenting →
Post-thrombotic syndrome
After a DVT, some people develop ongoing leg swelling, heaviness, and skin changes called post-thrombotic syndrome. We manage it with compression and, when a deep-vein blockage persists, with vein stenting to restore outflow. Deep Venous Stenting →
When to call us — don’t wait for your next visit
A deep-vein clot can change quickly, and a piece can travel to the lungs. Call us right away for the leg signs below — and call 911 for the breathing signs:
Call our office today if you notice:
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New or worsening swelling, pain, warmth, or redness in a leg
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Increasing pain, or a firm, cord-like vein
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After a vein stent: the treated leg suddenly becoming more swollen — possible stent clotting
Call our office at (918) 943-5303 and tell us what’s changed — we’ll get you seen sooner, because catching these early often keeps a small problem from becoming a big one.
Go to the emergency room now, or call 911, if you have:
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A foot or leg that becomes suddenly cold, pale, numb, or painful
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An infection that is spreading quickly, or a fever with a wound
Sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain that is worse with a deep breath, a racing heartbeat, coughing up blood, or fainting can signal a clot that has traveled to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) — call 911 immediately.
Frequently asked questions
For referring providers — We accept referrals for acute DVT and PE, including patients who may benefit from catheter-based clot removal, and for post-thrombotic and May-Thurner evaluation. Refer: (918) 943-5303 · fax (855) 312-3594.
Refer urgently: extensive or iliofemoral DVT, phlegmasia, or symptomatic PE — urgent evaluation or ED · Routinely: DVT with persistent symptoms or post-thrombotic syndrome for evaluation. Full referral guide →