Classification
Superficial venous thromboses can cause discomfort but generally do not cause serious consequences, unlike the deep venous thromboses (DVTs) that form in the deep veins of the legs or in the pelvic veins.Since the veins return blood to the heart, if a piece of a blood clot formed in a vein breaks off it can be transported to the right side of the heart, and from there into the lungs. A piece of thrombus that is transported in this way is an embolism: the process of forming a thrombus that becomes embolic is called a thromboembolism. An embolism that lodges in the lungs is a pulmonary embolism (PE). A pulmonary embolus is a very serious condition that can be fatal if not recognized and treated promptly.
Systemic embolisms of venous origin can occur in patients with an atrial or ventricular septal defect, through which an embolus may pass into the arterial system. This is termed a paradoxical emboli.
Risk factors
- General
- Older age
- Female gender
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Immobilisation
- Minor injuries
- Medical
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Oral contraceptive use
- Varicose veins
- Malignancy
- Kidney disorders
- Lupus anticoagulant
- Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Thromboangiitis obliterans (Mb Bürger)
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Familial
Prevention
Vitamin E may prevent venous thrombosis.References
See also
- Portal vein thrombosis
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Arterial thrombosis
- Plethysmography, a test to detect a venous thrombosis
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Last updated on Saturday June 28, 2008 at 12:54:54 PDT (GMT -0700)
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