Before and After Mechanical Thrombectomy: DVT Diagnosis and Recovery
Deep Vein Thrombosis Program
John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital
19829 N. 27th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85027
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Call 602-943-1111 for a referral to a deep vein thrombosis specialist
Defined as the formation of a blood clot in the legs or arms, deep vein thrombosis (or "DVT") blocks the flow of blood in the veins to the heart and lungs.
John C. Lincoln Deep Vein Thrombosis Program offers a proactive treatment for this serious and increasingly common health problem.
In an advanced technique called mechanical thrombectomy (minimally invasive clot removal), John C. Lincoln interventional radiologists use a clot-removal device in conjunction with a clot-dissolving drug. Our DVT Treatment page explores the benefits of this innovative procedure in more detail.
Here, we'll look at some common questions about how we diagnose DVT prior to treatment and explain the DVT recovery process.
DVT Diagnosis
Imagine you’re experiencing one or more DVT symptoms, such as pain and swelling in one leg. Should you seek medical care? The answer is an unqualified "Yes." Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment.
John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital advocates mechanical thrombectomy as a treatment for DVT. To develop a DVT diagnosis, you may encounter one or more imaging procedures.
DVT diagnosis techniques include:
- A "D-dimer" test: Blood clots are the result of glued-together proteins in the blood, called fibrin. Another protein, called plasmin, breaks them apart. As fibrin breaks down, higher levels of "D-dimer" (a form of disintegrated fibrin) are found in the blood. D-dimer can be detected using a blood sample from the arm.
- CT Scan: Computed tomography (CT) scans are three-dimensional images of soft tissue, organs and bones. In a diagnostic CT venography, a contrasting dye is injected to show blockages in veins.
- Ultrasound: High-frequency waves measure the speed of blood flow, as well as explore the structure of veins and blood clots.
- MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging combines strong magnets and radio waves to form a detailed image of structures within the body.
DVT Recovery
Mechanical thrombectomy treatment at John C. Lincoln Deep Vein Thrombosis Program is a nonsurgical procedure that usually can be performed on an outpatient basis. Patients are treated under local anesthetic.
As patients undergo the DVT recovery process at home, they typically find pain disappears overnight. Usually, swelling is almost gone within 7 to 10 days.
As a complement to the procedure, blood-thinning medications are typically prescribed for the first three months following treatment, to protect against further clotting.
The DVT recovery period has specific guideposts. Each patient is asked to follow up with the Deep Vein Thrombosis Program at one week, one month and 90 days following the procedure. This helps to ensure there are no rare post-surgical complications. At six months, we will perform an ultrasound to be sure that no new clots have formed.
Compared with traditional DVT therapy, the benefits of mechanical thrombectomy with AngioJet are numerous. Among them, hospitalization is reduced, and the DVT recovery period is shortened, because the procedure usually can be performed on an outpatient basis. Exposure to blood thinning drugs is lower so there is reduced risk of internal bleeding and decreased long term vein damage.