Clinical Definition

A deep venous thrombosis refers to a stationary blood clot, or thrombus formation, inside a vein. It usually develops in proximal veins of the lower extremities, and elements believed to contribute to thrombus formation include vascular injury, blood stasis and hypercoagulability. A pulmonary embolism is a serious complication of deep venous thrombosis.

In Our Own Words

A deep venous thrombosis, or a blood clot along the wall of a blood vessel, develops when blood pools and forms a clot in a vein. Most common sites for DVT include the veins of the lower leg and the pelvis. In some instances, this condition can compromise vascular integrity of a limb.

Risk factors of DVT are surgery, leg injuries and fractures. Limited mobility from an injury or surgery causes a decrease in blood circulation, causing blood to pool and a clot (or embolus) to form. In some cases, a fragment of the clot can break and travel to the vessels of the lung, which indicates a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Call 911 immediately.