How Is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Treated?
If you have been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), you have a blood clot deep within one of the veins of your lower leg, thigh or pelvis. Your body will naturally dissolve a blood clot over time, but a DVT is a serious medical condition requiring treatment because if the clot breaks free and travels (embolizes) to your lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism. The goal of treatment is to prevent the blood clot from getting bigger, prevent the clot from causing a pulmonary embolism, and keep other clots from forming. The treatment options include: • Blood thinners. These medicines won’t break up existing blood clots, but they reduce the ability of your blood to clot in order to keep an existing clot from getting larger and reduce the risk of more clots. Heparin and Warfarin are the most commonly prescribed medications. • Clotbusters. Serious and life-threatening cases may require thrombolytic medications such as tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), which is given by IV. • Filte
