Lilavati Hospital sheds light on DVT

Due to its silent nature, the recognition of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) has been a problem for practitioners. Thus, the only solution is to make the general mass and the medical fraternity aware of the possible symptoms. 

Doctors of the prestigious Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, as part of the hospital’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme, recently held a seminar on the issue. The programme was accredited by Maharashtra Medical Council.

Dr Abhay Bhave, Consultant Haematologist, Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre; Dr Nitin Chavan, Consultant Pathologist, Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre & Dr Kashvi Mehta, Consultant Pathologist, Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre presented case studies that were followed by a panel discussion.

DVT exists in Indian patients particularly in hospitalised patients. A case study was used to explain the above fact. The described patient developed breathlessness post operation. The patient was assumed to have a heart attack while actually the patient had a clot in his lung. This patient died subsequently.

Venous thrombosis is a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) forms in a vein either in the legs (commonly) or the upper limb or in the veins of the pelvis. It can be life-threatening if it occurs in the lung vessels causing Pulmonary Embolism (PE) where the patient complains of sudden onset of breathlessness and chest pain imitating a heart attack.

Some of the factors predisposing to DVT could be travelling more than 10,000 km by flight or flights that are more than 6-8 hours, cancer patients, immobilised patients, those with family history of clotting tendency and also those undergoing prolonged surgery. Pregnancy, obesity, limb paralysis, high blood fats, diabetes, trauma (injury), heavy smoking and varicose veins can also be regarded as add on factors for clotting.

Addressing the medical fraternity, Dr Bhave, said, “CMEs are the best way to spread awareness in the medical community towards preventing or treating DVT PE.”

Further, the percentage of patients given preventive therapy in India is less than half of the west despite Indians having a similar risk of DVT. Early recognition through awareness, appropriate lifestyle changes, prompt prophylaxis with relevant heparin and correct treatment if diagnosed with DVT, are the keys to the successful management of DVT in our population.