According to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s estimated that 3 out of every 1,000 patients in America will develop DVT or deep vein thrombosis during their lifetime. This is a serious medical condition that’s associated with severe, potentially fatal complications.
Recognizing the symptoms of DVT and treating it as soon as possible is a critical duty of doctors and other healthcare providers. Sadly, negligence and misconduct can result in permanent harm to the patient, including death as a result of DVT-related complications.
Are you a city of Sacramento resident who is suffering from the effects of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed DVT? Were you injured by negligent healthcare providers at a Sacramento, CA medial facility and need information on your rights and legal options? If so, contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm to receive a free consultation.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Brief Overview
The medical condition known as deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms within your veins. More specifically, the clots form in the deep veins, which are different from the superficial veins (the ones that are just under the skin’s surface). The deep veins are located within the muscle tissue, right near your bones and major arteries.
But just like your superficial veins, the deep veins transport blood back and forth from the heart to your extremities. This transportation system is powered by muscles that squeeze around the veins to push the blood through, along with one-way valves that prevent the blood from traveling in the opposite direction.
A blood clot is a mass of proteins, blood platelets, and cells that can form in various parts of the body, including your veins. Blood clots serve an important purpose, as they keep you from bleeding out when you have cuts and other wounds on the skin.
Unfortunately, blood clots can also develop in the circulatory system and interrupt the flow of blood between your heart and extremities. Blood clots that form in the circulatory system are referred to as thromboses, and this is where the name “deep vein thrombosis” comes from.
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Causes and Risk Factors for DVT
Different risk factors can increase your chances for DVT, like smoking, being overweight, not getting enough physical activity, and having a family history of blood disorders. Being over the age of 60 also places you at greater risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Even if you don’t have any of risk factors, your doctor must take certain precautions to prevent the condition or catch the symptoms as early as possible. For instance, you may develop DVT in your leg because of a mistake by your doctor or another surgical team member during an operation.
What happens after the surgery, like a long-term stay at the hospital, is another risk factor for DVT. Patients may be confined to a bed for long periods of time, but there are steps that the nursing team can take to encourage blood flow in the affected limb during your recovery. Stretching, changing positions, going for short walks, and wearing compression garments are some of the ways to prevent deep vein thrombosis during a hospitalization.
Dangers Complications of Deep Vein Thrombosis
The primary concern with DVT is the possibility of blood clots traveling to the lungs. This can cause pulmonary embolism, meaning there is a blockage in the pulmonary artery. If the condition is not diagnosed and treated quickly, the patient may end up dying from respiratory distress.
Even if the clot does not travel to other parts of the body, it’s dangerous to have a prolonged blockage in your circulatory system. This can lead to a variety of harmful conditions, like pain, swelling, skin ulcers, eczema, infections, and post-thrombotic syndrome.
How to Recognize DVT
Please note that the symptoms of DVT may not be apparent in every patient. That’s why preventative measures are so important, along with constant monitoring and open communication between patients and medical staff.
Though an ultrasound is needed to confirm a diagnosis of DVT, common symptoms of the illness include:
- Swelling, especially in the back of the leg
- Aching, throbbing pain in the thigh or calf
- Bluish or reddish tint to the skin in the affected limb
- Skin is warm and tender
Make sure to notify your doctor immediately if you notice these symptoms, and go to the emergency room or call 911 if you experience any of the following, which may be signs of pulmonary embolism:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid pulse rate
- Dizziness / fainting
- Coughing up blood
Diagnosing and Treating Deep Vein Thrombosis
As we mentioned before, DVT cannot be diagnosed without an ultrasound performed by your doctor. Instead of an ultrasound, your doctor may order an MRI scan, blood tests, or a specialized X-ray test.
Once it’s determined that you have deep vein thrombosis, it’s essential to restore the normal flow of blood by dissolving the blockage, i.e., the blood clot. It’s essential that the clot is dissolved completely before it can travel into the pulmonary arteries. With that in mind, most forms of treatment involve medications like anticoagulants. A combination of medications should help to break up the existing clot and prevent the formation of new ones.
It’s important to note that meds like anticoagulants may not be suitable for certain patients based on their medical history and pre-existing conditions. Or, it may be discovered that the blood clots are not responding to the medications. In these situations, a mesh screen may need to be inserted into a vein that’s above the clot as a way to keep the mass from traveling to your heart or lungs.
Suing for Injuries Caused by Deep Vein Thrombosis
Careless actions by your physician and other medical professionals can lead to a missed diagnosis of DVT or failure to properly treat the condition. Under these circumstances, you may have the option of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
The compensation from a deep vein thrombosis medical malpractice claim can help you recover:
- Medical expenses, including future / lifetime medical care costs
- Lost wages and/or lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
To succeed in a lawsuit, you must prove that the occurrence of DVT is a direct result of inadequate medical care. Alternatively, you can file a medical malpractice claim if you suffered complications from undiagnosed or untreated DVT, such as pulmonary embolism.
A deep vein thrombosis medical malpractice lawyer in Sacramento can review the available evidence and verify whether you are eligible for a malpractice lawsuit. Contact our law firm today and schedule a free case evaluation.
The Sacramento Medical Malpractice Lawyers of Normandie
Our team of personal injury lawyers can assist you 24/7 if you were injured due to careless or reckless conduct by a doctor, nurse, radiologist, or any other healthcare provider. Ultimately, medical facilities will do their best to protect their doctors and minimize liability for the harm that was inflicted on you. The medical malpractice lawyers of Normandie have the skill and experience to prove your case and bring you the compensation you are entitled to.
We also take cases on contingency, so the cost of legal representation is covered by the negligent party. That means you pay nothing when you choose to hire us. In the event we fail to recover your settlement, the costs are on us, and you walk away without spending a penny.
For more information on suing for medical malpractice resulting in deep vein thrombosis or DVT-related complications, contact our attorneys today.
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