Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and superficial thrombophlebitis (SVT) are conditions that involve blood clots and inflammation in the veins. Most blood clots occur in your legs and occasionally your arms.  

DVT occurs when a blood clot and inflammation occur deep in a vein — far away from your skin. DVT can cause vein damage, varicose veins, swelling in the leg, pain and skin ulcers.  If the blood clot breaks free from the vein, it can travel to other parts of your body and cause potentially life-threatening conditions. Superficial thrombophlebitis is an irritation in the lining of your vein.  

Symptoms of DVT and SVT  

The most common symptom of DVT is sudden swelling of one leg associated with pain. Hot, painful veins and redness of the skin are symptoms of SVT.  

Treatment for DVT  

If the DVT is extensive, or symptoms don’t improve with medication, you may require removal or dissolving of the clots. Multiple minimally invasive devices are used by our vascular team.  The specific device may use clot-dissolving medication along with suction, ultrasound, or mechanical methods to remove the clot.  The specific device used is customized to your individual clot condition. The goal of all these devices is to remove the clot before it permanently damages your veins, which can lead to complications such as chronic leg swelling, pain, and ulcers.  

IVC Filter  

Using a catheter, a small filter is inserted into your vein. Blood flows normally through this filter, but any small clots that might travel through your blood are trapped and break down over time.