Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Common signs are leg pain and swelling. It matters because a clot can break loose and travel to the lung. If you have leg swelling with chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911 now.
Why DVT is serious
FCCI notes DVT happens in over 900,000 cases in the U.S. each year. If the clot breaks free and lodges in the lung, it is called a pulmonary embolism, and it can be fatal. That is why sudden leg symptoms deserve attention the same day.
Symptoms that can point to a clot
- Leg pain, often in the calf
- Swelling in one leg
- Varicose veins that change or hurt
- Shortness of breath (call 911)
Some clots cause few symptoms. If you are at high risk and something feels off, do not wait it out.
Who is at higher risk
FCCI lists these risk factors:
- A prior clot or a clotting disorder
- Trauma or injury
- Recent major surgery
- Other medical problems
- Cancer
- Blood diseases
- Being immobile, like long bed rest or long trips
- Obesity
How the vascular lab checks for DVT
The test is called a venous duplex. A registered vascular technologist uses ultrasound to look at the deep veins of your leg and see whether blood flows freely or a clot is blocking it. A complete study usually takes about 30 minutes. There are no needles or radiation.
When a clot is the worry, the ultrasound is done in FCCI's Non-Invasive Vascular Lab. It is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, and no other lab in Jacksonville focuses solely on vascular testing.
After a clot
A past DVT can damage vein valves and lead to chronic venous insufficiency later. FCCI is the only freestanding catheterization lab focused on treating and managing clotted veins. Deep vein tools there include venography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), venoplasty and stents. Your doctor will decide what, if anything, you need.
Lowering your risk
- Move often on long car rides and flights.
- Get up and walk after surgery when your doctor says it is safe.
- Tell your doctor about any past clot or family history.
- Take medicines exactly as prescribed.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
A whole team under one roof
Not every swollen, painful leg turns out to be a clot. The Vein Clinic at FCCI is the only one in Northeast Florida with a team of board certified endovascular and vascular physicians, and the practice also includes cardiovascular, sleep medicine, wound care and pulmonology specialists. So if your scan rules out a clot, FCCI can steer you to the right specialist without starting over. FCCI calls this a 360-degree approach that looks at your whole risk picture, not just your veins.
Where to go
Clot testing is time sensitive, so knowing the closest office helps. FCCI sees patients from Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Putnam, Ware and Nassau counties. In Jacksonville there is the Southside office and cath lab at 7011 AC Skinner Parkway, a Northside office on Dunn Avenue and a Westside office on Timuquana Road, plus offices in Fruit Cove, Orange Park (904.644.0092), Palatka (386.325.2836, with its own cath lab) and Waycross, Georgia. Call 8am to 5pm on weekdays and ask where testing is available.
For a suspected clot, speed matters. Call your doctor the same day, and for testing reach FCCI at 904.493.3333 between 8am and 5pm on weekdays, or request a time on our booking page. Leg swelling plus chest pain or shortness of breath is an emergency, so call 911.
