DVT and treatment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DVT and treatment - Essay ExampleOther risk factors for DVT include post artificer period, pregnancy, puerperium, local harm and stasis, smoking, obesity, lupus anticoagulant, post-stroke or neurological trauma, type-A blood group, malignancy, deficiencies of protein C, protein S or antithrombin III, impaired fibrinolysis as in post operative patients, those on estrogens, acute myocardial infection and congestive heart failure, hyperlipidemia, increasing age, inflammatory bowel unhealthiness and homocystinuria. Studies have shown that patients receiving general anaesthesia have a 500% increased risk of DVT compared with patients receiving epidural anesthesia for the same surgical procedure (Craig 2005).Vascular endothelial injury, even though minimal, exposes amorphous electron-dense substance which stimulates platelet adhesion and aggregation. The release of amorphous electron-dense substance is enhanced by activity of the intrinsic coagulation cascade. thrombocyte adhesion and aggregation causes formation of hemostatic plug after which coagulation pathways are activated and thrombin is generated. Fibrin cross-linking builds a true thrombus out of what was initially a loose aggregation of blood elements (Craig, 2005). Normally, these series of events are opposed. In conditions as discussed above, these events are unopposed resulting in propagation of thrombus throughout the venous system. This is further accentuated by heraldic bearing of reduced blood flow wherein the activated coagulation factors will accumulate.In many cases DVT may proceed asymptomatic. The classic signs and symptoms of DVT are pain, tenderness, and unilateral leg swelling, due to obstruction to venous drainage. Other signs include warmth, erythema, a palpable cord, pain upon passive dorsi crimp of the foot, and spontaneous maintenance of the relaxed foot in abnormal plantar flexion (Craig 2005). Cellulitis can occur and in severe cases, pulmonary embolism can