What causes blood clots? Conditions and treatments
What Is Cephalic Vein Thrombosis?
Cephalic vein thrombosis is a blood clot in the cephalic vein in the arm. It occurs when something affects the vein's blood flow to the heart. The condition generally resolves by itself but can become more serious if the blood clot progresses.
Cephalic vein thrombosis is a form of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT). SVT is a blood clot in the superficial veins close to the skin's surface.
The cephalic vein is a superficial vein and the longest vein in the arm. It runs from the hand up to the shoulder.
This article looks at the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and outlook of cephalic vein thrombosis.
Symptoms of cephalic vein thrombosis may affect the area where the blood clot in the arm occurs and may include:
Read more about the symptoms of a blood clot.
Cephalic vein thrombosis can occur if something affects the vein's ability to transport blood to the heart. It may occur due to trauma to the arm, prolonged immobility, or a health condition that causes abnormal blood clotting.
Injury to cells in the lining of the blood vessel can cause an inflammatory response, which causes blood cells to join together and clot.
Certain factors that may increase the risk of developing cephalic vein thrombosis include:
Learn about how thick blood increases blood clot risk.
To diagnose cephalic vein thrombosis, a doctor will perform a physical examination and assess symptoms.
Doctors may use vascular ultrasound — a scan that uses sound waves to provide images of soft tissues in the body.
A vascular ultrasound can show doctors if there are any issues with the blood vessels and if a blood clot is present. It can also help rule out more serious conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
A doctor will discuss the steps people need to take, such as removing any jewelry before the scan.
According to a 2020 case report, prompt treatment of cephalic vein thrombosis may help prevent complications, such as lasting skin discoloration, infections, or progression to a more serious condition, such as DVT.
In most cases, cephalic vein thrombosis may resolve by itself, and treatments can help ease symptoms.
Treatment for cephalic vein thrombosis may include the following:
If people have a large blood clot, severe symptoms, or an increased risk of a blood clot reaching the deep veins, they may require additional treatment to help prevent complications.
In these cases, a doctor may also prescribe an anticoagulant or blood thinner, which is a medication that helps reduce and prevent blood clots.
If blood thinning medication is ineffective, people may require a thrombectomy, which is surgery to remove the blood clot from the vein.
Understanding the risk factors for cephalic vein thrombosis can help people reduce their risk and help prevent the condition.
In people with an increased risk of blood clots, wearing compression garments, such as a compression sleeve for the arm, may help.
If people have surgery on the arm and a doctor thinks there may be a risk of blood clots, they may prescribe blood thinners as a precaution before and after surgery.
Other tips for preventing blood clots include:
Cephalic vein thrombosis is a type of SVT, which generally resolves by itself and is not harmful.
However, other cases of SVT can be more dangerous and may link to DVT. DVT is a serious condition that can lead to pulmonary embolism, which can be life threatening.
People with SVT may have an increased risk of recurrent blood clots in the veins and an increased risk of DVT or pulmonary embolism by 4–6 times across their lifetime.
Cephalic vein thrombosis may be more serious if the blood clot affects veins near the axillary vein, a deep vein in the upper arm, as this can be similar to DVT.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of cephalic vein thrombosis may help resolve the condition and prevent the blood clot from progressing to a more serious issue. Treatment can also help prevent infections or lasting skin discoloration. Overall, the outlook is positive for those with SVT who receive treatment.
Cephalic vein thrombosis is a blood clot in the cephalic vein — a long vein in the arm running from the hand to the shoulder area.
Cephalic vein thrombosis may cause swelling, redness, pain, or heat in the arm area. If people have symptoms of a blood clot in the arm, they can consult a doctor for diagnosis.
The condition may resolve by itself, and treatments can help ease symptoms. This may include a warm compress, elevation, anti-inflammatory medications, and a compression sleeve.
Cephalic vein thrombosis is generally not serious, but it may link to more dangerous conditions, such as DVT.
A doctor can check for any underlying issues affecting vein health to help people understand their risk factors and prevent further problems.
What To Know About Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
In medical terms, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is when blood clots form, typically in a deep vein in the leg or the pelvis. A pulmonary embolism (PE) can occur if part of a clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are two parts of the disease known as venous thromboembolism.
DVT needs urgent medical attention as a PE can be life-threatening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that 10–30% of people who develop DVT in the leg experience fatal complications within a month of diagnosis.
In this article, we define DVT, explain how to recognize it, and ways to treat it.
DVT is blood clotting that develops with deep veins, often in the leg or pelvis.
If the thrombus, or clot, breaks off, doctors call this an embolus. Emboli can make their way to the lung, causing a PE.
Clots may also form in the veins of the arm, such as in people with Paget-Schoetter disease.
According to a 2017 review, DVT is the most common cause of maternal death in the developed world.
DVT is extremely rare in children. According to a 2016 article, the most recent figures suggest that 0.30 in every 100,000 children under 9 years of age, and 0.64 in every 100,000 children aged between 10 and 19 years develop DVT.
Some people may develop DVT without noticing symptoms. However, if symptoms develop, they may resemble the following:
In most people, DVT only develops in one leg. However, on rare occasions, both legs may have DVT.
If a clot dislodges and travels to the lung, the following symptoms may indicate PE:
There are two possible complications:
Pulmonary embolismPE is the most common complication of DVT and can be life threatening. It happens when a piece of a blood clot becomes dislodged and makes its way through the bloodstream into the lungs.
The clot becomes stuck and disrupts the flow of blood in one of the blood vessels in the lung. In mild PE, an individual may not be aware.
A medium sized clot may cause breathing problems and chest pain. In more severe cases, the lung might collapse. PE can lead to heart failure and can be fatal.
Post-thrombotic syndromeThis is more common among people with recurrent DVT. According to a 2016 review, a person with post-thrombotic syndrome might experience the following symptoms, although they vary between individuals:
Some doctors call this condition post-phlebitic syndrome.
An individual may develop DVT when there is no clear cause. However, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), most people with DVT develop the condition due to one or several risk factors and underlying conditions.
InactivityIf the human body is inactive for long periods, blood can build up in the lower limbs and pelvic area.
This situation is not a problem for most people. As soon as physical activity levels return to normal, blood flow speeds up. The vein and arteries redistribute blood around the body.
However, prolong inactivity means that blood in the legs may slow a person's blood flow, increasing the risk of clots forming.
A person might be inactive for long periods due to a range of causes, including:
An injury or surgery that damages veins can slow the flow of blood. This increases the risk of blood clots. General anesthetics can also widen the veins, making it more likely that blood pools and clots may form.
While this risk may affect anyone having major surgery, the NHLBI suggest that people receiving knee and hip surgery, particularly, have a high risk of developing DVT.
GeneticsA person may have an inherited disorder that makes blood clots more likely, such as Factor V Leiden thrombophilia.
However, even though having this condition increases the risk, only around 10% of people with it go on to develop unusual blood clots, according to Genetics Home Reference.
PregnancyAs a fetus develops inside the uterus, pressure against a woman's veins in the legs and pelvis increases. A woman has an increased risk of DVT during pregnancy until six weeks after delivering their baby.
Females with some inherited blood disorders, such as hereditary antithrombin disorder, have a higher risk of DVT during pregnancy compared with other women.
CancerSome cancers have links to a higher risk of DVT, including late stage colon, pancreatic, and breast cancers.
Cancer therapies and procedures can also increase a person's risk of DVT, including chemotherapy, a central venous catheter, and certain cancer surgeries.
Read more about cancer and its treatments here.
Irritable bowel diseasePeople with irritable bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of DVT. A 2018 study found that the risk may be three to four times higher than that of a person without IBD.
Learn all about IBD here.
Heart problemsAny condition that affects how well the heart moves blood around the body can cause problems with clots and bleeds.
Conditions such as heart attacks or congestive heart failure may increase a person's risk of developing a blood clot.
Find out more about heart disease here.
Hormone-based medicationsFemales who take hormone-based birth control or are on a course of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause have a higher risk of DVT than those who do not take these medications.
Discover everything you need to know about HRT here.
ObesityPeople with obesity experience more pressure on their blood vessels, especially those in the pelvis and legs.
For this reason, they may have an increased risk of DVT.
SmokingPeople who smoke tobacco regularly are more likely to develop DVT than people who have never smoked or have stopped.
People finding it difficult to quit smoking might find these tips helpful here.
Varicose veinsVaricose veins are enlarged and misshapen veins. While they often do not cause health problems, particularly overgrown varicose veins may lead to DVT unless a person receives treatment for them.
Learn more about varicose veins here.
AgeEven though DVT may develop at any age, the risk increases as a person's age advances.
According to the NHLBI, the risk of DVT doubles every 10 years after people reach 40 years of age.
SexA person's sex can affect their DVT risk.
Females are more likely than males to experience DVT around childbearing age. However, females have a lower risk after menopause than men do at the same age.
If a person suspects that they may have DVT, they should seek immediate medical attention. The doctor will ask questions about symptoms and medical history before carrying out a physical examination.
A doctor will usually not be able to diagnose DVT through symptoms alone and may recommend tests, including:
DVT treatment aims to:
A doctor may recommend several methods to manage DVT, as follows:
Anticoagulant medicationsThese are drugs that prevent the clot from growing, as well as reducing the risk of embolism. Two types of anticoagulants support the treatment of DVT: Heparin and warfarin.
Heparin has an immediate effect. For this reason, doctors usually administer it first through a brief course of injections lasting less than a week.
With warfarin, the doctor is likely to recommend a 3–6-month course of oral tablets to prevent recurrence of DVT.
People with recurrent DVT may need to take anticoagulant medication for the rest of their lives.
ThrombolysisPeople with more severe DVT or PE require immediate medical attention. The doctor or emergency team administers drugs called thrombolytics, or clot busters, that break down clots.
Tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) is an example of a thrombolytic drug.
Excessive bleeding is a side effect of these drugs. As a result, medical teams only administer TPA or similar interventions in emergency situations.
Healthcare professionals administer TPA through a small catheter, or tube, directly into the site of the clot. Patients undergoing catheter-directed thrombolysis will be in the hospital for several days and have intermittent "lysis checks" to make sure the clot is breaking down appropriately.
Inferior vena cava filterA surgeon inserts a very small device, resembling an umbrella, into the vena cava, which is a large vein. The device catches blood clots and stops them moving into the lungs while allowing blood flow to continue.
Compression stockingPeople wear these to help reduce pain, limit swelling, and prevent ulcers from developing. Stockings can also protect the individual from post-thrombotic syndrome.
Someone with DVT will have to wear stockings at all times for at least 24 months.
This is a relatively new technique that surgeons may use to treat a blood clot that occurs with DVT or PE.
The procedure involves using a catheter and a clot-removing device, which may be an aspiration catheter, a retrieval stent, or a pump.
Using imaging techniques for guidance, the surgeon:
The authors of a 2019 review conclude that mechanical thrombectomy is safe and effective at treating DVT and reducing the risk of recurrence.
There is no available method for screening people for DVT. However, doctors recommend three ways for people with one or several risk factors, such as recent surgery, to prevent the first occurrence of DVT.
These are:
As smoking and obesity are also key risk factors, it may be advisable to quit smoking and engage in regular physical activity.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 150 minutes of moderate-to-high intensity exercise every week is the amount they recommend.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Content
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot (thrombus) in a deep vein, usually in the legs. These clots require medical care right away.
These clots are dangerous because they can break loose, travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, and block blood flow in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). Pulmonary embolism is often life-threatening. DVT can also lead to long-lasting problems. It may damage the vein and cause the leg to ache, swell, and change color.
Clots can also form in superficial veins. Blood clots with inflammation in superficial veins (called superficial thrombophlebitis or phlebitis) rarely cause serious problems.
Blood clots most often form in the calf and thigh veins, and less often in the arm veins or pelvic veins. Diagnosis and treatment of DVT in other parts of the body are similar.
Comments
Post a Comment