Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a severe medical condition that can result in death if not immediately treated. But even when the outcome isn’t fatal, treating the condition can take a serious toll on a person’s quality of life and lead to extensive medical costs.
Knowing the signs of DVT can help you recognize when something is wrong and seek medical care before it’s too late. And given the fact that the condition is often the result of medical malpractice, a lawyer can help you identify whether you qualify to recover compensation for the injury.
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What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis is a medical condition that occurs when one or more blood clots develop in what are known as the deep veins. It can happen in the arms, but it’s most commonly seen in the legs, thighs, and pelvis.
Blood clots can also form in the outer veins, which are closer to the skin. However, this particular condition, which is called superficial venous thrombosis, is rarely life-threatening.
When blood clots form in the deep veins, there’s a high risk of the clot breaking loose and traveling through the bloodstream. If a blood clot makes it to the blood vessels in the lungs, it leads to a pulmonary embolism. And without immediate medical intervention, the outcome is often fatal.
How Does Deep Vein Thrombosis Happen?
DVT typically happens for one of two reasons. The first is an injured vein (or set thereof). The second is when a person experiences slow blood flow, which can occur for a variety of reasons.
Factors that can increase the risk of developing DVT include the following:
- Obesity
- Old age
- Conditions like cancer
- Long periods of bed rest
- Pregnancy
- Birth control
Many times, DVT occurs when a patient is already under medical care for other conditions. Whether a patient is on bed rest, undergoing cancer treatment, healing from surgery, or currently pregnant, their treating physician has an obligation to be aware of and monitor the risk of developing DVT.
If a doctor fails to diagnose sluggish blood flow or fails to take treatment precautions that reduce the risk of developing a blood clot in the deep veins, the oversight may constitute an instance of medical malpractice.
What Are Common Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Some of the most common signs of DVT include the following:
- Swelling in the affected limb
- Swollen veins that are hard or sore
- Throbbing pain
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Red or darkened skin
- Warmth
Anytime DVT is suspected, you should immediately seek medical care. In many cases, an individual may not realize they are even experiencing symptoms of the condition until a blood clot comes loose and enters the bloodstream.
When that happens, common symptoms include things such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Coughing blood
If DVT results in a pulmonary embolism, the outcome can quickly become fatal. As such, emergency medical care is vital to stop the fatal impact of a dislodged blood clot.
What Are Some Treatment Options For Deep Vein Thrombosis?
When DVT progresses to the point of a pulmonary embolism, treatment may involve life-saving emergency surgery to remove the blood clot. However, if the condition is identified before the clot enters the bloodstream, the primary treatment objective is preventing further injury.
In such circumstances, treatment focuses on the following:
- Regulating blood flow
- Preventing the clot from entering the bloodstream
- Preventing the clot from growing larger
- Preventing additional clots from forming
A doctor will normally prescribe anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners, to facilitate faster blood flow and prevent the blood clot from growing any larger. When the blood clot is large, though, a doctor may recommend DVT thrombolysis, a procedure that involves inserting a catheter into the leg and using medications to dissolve the clot.
Treatment for smaller clots emphasizes symptom management, with the goal of helping relieve the patient’s pain and discomfort. It will usually involve having the patient wear compression socks and regularly elevating the legs. These precautions help naturally encourage healthy blood flow and prevent the development of additional blood clots.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
There’s no quick fix for the development of DVT. Patients who develop the condition may have to spend months on blood thinning medications. And often, doctors recommend wearing compression socks for up to two years after the diagnosis.
The most common lingering symptom associated with DVT is chronic leg pain. Unfortunately, for many patients, that pain can be severe enough that it interferes with their ability to work or perform daily tasks.
Other common long-term symptoms associated with DVT include severe leg swelling and changes in the skin’s appearance, like redness or darkening. Some patients develop open sores on the skin, a condition known as skin ulceration.
Common Deep Vein Thrombosis Injury Costs
A DVT diagnosis can result in significant costs. Even smaller clots may result in the need for a hospital stay. But when the clot is large and requires removal, or if the clot enters the bloodstream and requires emergency surgery, the costs grow more substantial.
While treatment costs alone can leave a patient with sizable medical debt, the impact on the quality of their life is often the greatest cost that comes out of DVT. When a patient suffers symptoms like severe chronic pain or swelling, returning to work can be impossible.
However, a patient’s development of DVT can often be linked back to a medical error or oversight. When that is the case, a medical malpractice lawyer can help the patient recover compensation for treatment costs, lost wages, and other expenses related to the condition. When medical oversight leads to deep vein thrombosis, the patient shouldn’t have to pay the price.
Our Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Seek Compensation For Your Deep Vein Thrombosis
Doctors have an obligation to monitor patients for signs of DVT and take precautions to ensure the condition doesn’t develop. If you or a loved one has either been diagnosed with DVT or suffered a pulmonary embolism, it’s possible that your injury was the result of medical malpractice. You may be eligible to recover compensation.
Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers is a Philadelphia personal injury law firm with a long track record of successfully securing compensation for injured clients. If you need legal assistance, contact us online for a free consultation or call 215-875-7030 to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in Philadelphia, PA.
