The blood flows very slowly in the veins and can easily clot. If a blood clot closes a leg or pelvic vein, a congestion occurs because the blood flow is blocked. Those affected complain of the typical feeling of heaviness in the legs as well as pain and swelling.
Complications of a thrombosis
If thrombosis remains untreated, it can lead to serious complications:
- Clots that break off enter the pulmonary vessels with the bloodstream and cause a pulmonary embolism, which can quickly develop into a life-threatening condition.
- If a "postthrombotic syndrome" occurs, the backflow congestion causes permanent damage to the veins in the legs or arms. In the further course of the disease, brown skin discoloration is seen. After minor injuries, there are often disturbances in wound healing up to an open lower leg ulcer.
Diagnosis and treatment
Our team is specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of venous thrombosis and treats both acute thrombosis and post-thrombotic syndrome as a secondary disease of venous thrombosis.
After a detailed survey of your medical history and a thorough examination (anamnesis), we determine the exact cause of your complaints with the help of further diagnostic procedures. The primary goal is to initiate immediate countermeasures in the event of an acute thrombosis.
Depending on the extent of the thrombosis and your symptoms, either outpatient or inpatient treatment is necessary. Our haemostaseologists (doctors specialising in the treatment of blood coagulation disorders) will advise you on the choice of the right medication for thinning the blood and even inhibiting blood coagulation (anticoagulant). In addition, we initiate a suitable compression therapy. If necessary, we carry out further examinations to clarify the cause of your complaints.