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Blood Clot (Thrombosis)
What
is thrombosis? Thrombosis is
the presence of a blood clot within an artery or vein. This blood clot has the
potential to break away from an artery or vein and either partially or
completely block the flow of blood to a particular area of the body.
Depending upon the area of blockage, this can result in a variety of
debilitating or fatal conditions, including stroke and heart attack. How
does a blood clot occur? When the flow
of blood slows down, usually due to inactivity, illness, or injury, the blood
may collect in a small pool. If this pool of blood hardens or coagulates, a
blood clot forms. Thrombus formation can also occur from a condition known as
endothelial dysfunction. This causes a disruption in the integrity of the
inner walls of blood vessels, and is usually associated with high blood
pressure and/or diabetes. How
is a blood clot detected? Blood clots
are difficult to detect, as they often do not cause any symptoms. Doctors
will often look for a blood clot following a surgical procedure (especially a
knee or hip replacement surgery). If your doctor suspects that you may have a
blood clot, he or she will order any of the following tests to make the
diagnosis:
What are
the treatment options for a blood clot? To treat a
thrombosis, your physician may prescribe medications or perform specific
procedures. Much of the treatment depends upon the severity of the blood
clot. Medications There are
three types of medications your doctor may prescribe:
Various
therapies and procedures can also destroy blood clots. These are described
below. Intravenous
(IV) Therapy Thrombolytic
Therapy: Thrombolytic agents, such as streptokinase or TPA, can be given
intravenously (IV) to dissolve larger clots in the blood vessels.
Thrombolytic therapy requires hospitalization to 1) administer the IV drug
and 2) monitor patients for complications usually related to excessive
bleeding. Procedures Patients who
cannot tolerate anti-coagulant medications due to allergies or excessive
bleeding, or who develop a pulmonary embolism, may require a minimally
invasive procedure to destroy a blood clot. These procedures are:
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