Thrombosis can be dangerous as it might block the flow of blood.  Also, part of the clot might break away and block a blood vessel further along, cutting off the blood supply to important organs.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot in one of the deep veins within the body, such as in the legs. This kind of thrombosis can occur after surgery and may cause redness, pain and swelling of the legs. Please speak to your physician if you experience these symptoms.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious condition, it can occur when a blood clot breaks away from its original location and travels to the lungs. Symptoms may include sharp chest pain, sudden shortness of breath and coughing up blood. If you experience any of these symptoms, please seek emergency medical care immediately.

Numerous risk factors are associated with VTE, the most important of which are:

• Increasing age
• Immobility
• General surgery
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Cancer

How is a diagnosis made?

The diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis is typically made by ultrasound. Occasionally, a more sophisticated x-ray procedure, called a venogram, is required.

There are a number of medicines and mechanical therapies that can be used in prevention of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:

• Anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medicines: these medicines make the blood less able to clot and are sometimes called ‘blood thinners’. They can block the formation of new clots and stop existing clots from getting bigger. They could be either injectable or oral.
• Compression stockings or intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) boots: these improve circulation and help to prevent DVT by increasing the blood flows through the veins in the legs.