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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

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Discover the symptoms of blood clots in the deep venous system and what can cause them

Expert Heart & Vascular Care

Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our heart or vascular specialists.

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Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that typically affects the legs and arms. These clots can travel through the bloodstream to the heart, lungs or brain and cause a stroke or pulmonary embolism.

Our Vein Program specialists will help control your symptoms and reduce the risk of serious complications.

What are the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis?

Not everyone will experience symptoms before a clot becomes life-threatening. If you experience any of these symptoms of DVT, see your doctor right away:

  • Arm or leg swelling, pain or tenderness
  • Warmth in a swollen limb
  • Skin discoloration
  • Vein dilation

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a complication of DVT that causes chronic leg pain, swelling, and discoloration. You may be diagnosed with PTS if blood thinners do not relieve your DVT symptoms. PTS also is called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

What can cause DVT?

Limited blood flow or having a history of conditions that cause abnormal clotting can increase your risk for DVT.

Some of the risk factors for blood clots include:

  • Being obese
  • Having a central venous catheter or pacemaker
  • Living an inactive lifestyle
  • Being pregnant or in the 6-week time period after childbirth
  • Being 40 or older
  • Taking certain birth control pills
  • Suffering trauma to the vein’s inner lining from surgery or injury

Tests

The most common test used to diagnose DVT is the duplex venous ultrasound, which allows your doctor to see the blood flow through your veins. Your doctor may recommend blood tests if your DVT is caused by a genetic condition.

Arterial Duplex Ultrasound for Arms and Legs

Arterial duplex ultrasound uses Doppler and traditional ultrasound to assess blood flow in the arteries of your arms and legs.

Chest X-ray

Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart and chest wall.

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan

The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.

Fluoroscopy

A fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that uses a continuous X-ray beam passed through the body to create real-time, moving images of your internal structures.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.

Treatments

Your doctor likely will prescribe medications, compression stockings, walking or lower leg exercises to decrease the risk of blood clots. In some cases, surgery such as venous stenting may be required.

Complex IVC Filter Removal

Complex IVC filter removal procedures are needed when a filter in the inferior vena cava has become embedded in the vessel wall or penetrated the vein.

Rheolytic Thrombectomy

Rheolytic thrombectomy uses a jet of saline delivered through a catheter to break up a blood clot.

Venous Blood Clots Treatments (Venous Thromboembolism)

Venous blood clot treatments may include medications or advanced catheter-based procedures to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots.

Physicians

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21 Doctors & Specialists
Dr. Margaret Walkup Arnold, MD
Dr. Margaret Walkup Arnold, MD
Vascular Surgery
9000 Franklin Square Drive Baltimore, MD 21237
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Dr. Ayesha Nzeribe Hatch, MD
Dr. Ayesha Nzeribe Hatch, MD
Vascular Surgery
106 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-3100
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Dr. Lucy B. Kupersmith, MD
Dr. Lucy B. Kupersmith, MD
Vascular Surgery
1630 Main Street Suite 208 Chester, MD 21619
(410) 571-8430
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Dr. Edward Yiming Woo, MD
Dr. Edward Yiming Woo, MD
Vascular Surgery
(229)
106 Irving Street Northwest Physician Office Building North Tower, Suite 3150 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-0275
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Dr. Raghuveer Vallabhaneni, MD
Dr. Raghuveer Vallabhaneni, MD
Vascular Surgery
(173)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-2950
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Dr. Suzanne Siefert Kool, MD
Dr. Suzanne Siefert Kool, MD
Vascular Surgery
(170)
5601 Loch Raven Boulevard GSH SMYTH BLDG Baltimore, MD 21239
(410) 554-2950
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Dr. Arthur Flatau, III, MD
Dr. Arthur Flatau, III, MD
Vascular Surgery
(301)
25500 Point Lookout Road Floor 2 Leonardtown, MD 20650
(240) 434-4072
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Dr. Mark O'Brien Peeler, MD
Dr. Mark O'Brien Peeler, MD
Vascular Surgery
(445)
2002 Medical Parkway Suite 520 Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 571-8430
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Dr. Kevin Arthur Brown, MD
Dr. Kevin Arthur Brown, MD
Vascular Surgery
3333 North Calvert Street Suite 325 Baltimore, MD 21218
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Dr. Cameron M. Akbari, MD, MBA
Dr. Cameron M. Akbari, MD, MBA
Vascular Surgery
(269)
106 Irving Street Northwest Suite 3600 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 444-2255
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Dr. Jason Ryan Crowner, MD
Dr. Jason Ryan Crowner, MD
Vascular Surgery
5601 Loch Raven Boulevard GSH SMYTH BLDG Baltimore, MD 21239
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Dr. Joshua A. Dearing, MD
Dr. Joshua A. Dearing, MD
Vascular Surgery
(184)
7501 Surratts Road 208 Clinton, MD 20735
301-877-7353
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Dr. John Harvey, MD
Dr. John Harvey, MD
Vascular Surgery
(256)
24035 Three Notch Road Hollywood, MD 20636
(301) 373-7900
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Dr. Javairiah Fatima, MD
Dr. Javairiah Fatima, MD
Vascular Surgery
18101 Prince Philip Drive Olney, MD 20832
(301) 774-8962
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Dr. Misaki Mikki Kiguchi, MD
Dr. Misaki Mikki Kiguchi, MD
Vascular Surgery
(342)
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest 4th Floor Washington, DC 20007
(202) 444-2255
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Dr. Geetha Jeyabalan, MD
Dr. Geetha Jeyabalan, MD
Vascular Surgery
(246)
2002 Medical Parkway Suite 520 Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 571-8430
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Dr. Krystal C. Maloni, MD
Dr. Krystal C. Maloni, MD
Vascular Surgery
106 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-416-2000
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Dr. Steven David Abramowitz, MD
Dr. Steven David Abramowitz, MD
Vascular Surgery
(224)
106 Irving Street Northwest Suite 3150 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-0275
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Dr. Stephen Fulvio Stanziale, MD
Dr. Stephen Fulvio Stanziale, MD
Vascular Surgery
(275)
9101 Franklin Square Drive Outpatient Center, Suite 212 Baltimore, MD 21237
(443)-777-1900
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Dr. Jason Andrew Chin, MD
Dr. Jason Andrew Chin, MD
Vascular Surgery
5601 Loch Raven Boulevard Smyth Bldg Ste 303 Baltimore, MD 21239
(443) 444-3431
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Dr. Abdullah A. Alfawaz, MD
Dr. Abdullah A. Alfawaz, MD
Vascular Surgery
18109 Prince Philip Drive Basement Olney, MD 20832
(202) 877-0275
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