New Interventional Radiology Treatment for DVT
Deep Vein Thombrosis, also known as DVT, causes approximately 200,000 deaths per year. This condition involves a blood clot forming on the inside of a deep vein causing inflammation and complications. If a piece of the clot breaks off it can travel back through the veins and enter the heart, in which there is a high risk for a pulmonary embolism (PE). 
The blood clot can also travel to lungs to cause an embolism. Some common symptoms of DVT in an affected area may include swelling, pain, fatigue, redness or discoloration of skin, and/or visible surface veins. Currently, most patients are put on anticoagulation medication (blood thinners), which prevents future clots but does not break up the existing clot.Fortunately, a minimally invasive procedure has been developed to reduce poor blood circulation and help save those who suffer from DVT!
This new treatment, Trellis, was presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting. The new tool literally affects the patient and has them out the door in no time. The creator, Dr. Gerard O?Sullivan, states ?Let?s forget this rest-in-bed stuff.?
Dr. O?Sullivan is an interventional radiologist who specializes in minimally invasive procedures. This new Trellis Treatment is the biggest advancement treatment for DVT in 40 years. The treatment removes the blood clot immediately and then seeks to restore blood flow much faster than standard treatments such as thrombolysis. Trellis does this by inflating balloons ?on both sides of the clot to prevent pieces from traveling elsewhere in the body. Using imaging, the Trellis is guided through a catheter, and then rotated to infuse clot-busting medication". According to O?Sullivan, the final step involves the removal of clot pieces through a catheter averaging with a time of 22 minutes.
One of the main causes of DVT is poor blood circulation. Poor circulation causes cloisters of blood cells which then lead to clots which raise your risk of acquiring DVT. Poor blood circulation can arise from a variety of poor life style choices. Low activity levels which involve a lot of sitting or laziness, and also smoking have been known to contribute to poor blood circulation. The highest risk for poor blood circulation can occur during a surgical procedure which reduces poor blood circulation to your body.
Post-surgery pieces of tissue, fats, or protein have potential to travel through your veins causing damage to the walls of a patient?s veins. Doctors must take full precaution to prevent any prolonged absence of blood from any one part of a patient?s body and if avoidable, extensive bed rest increases the chances of DVT. If there is negligence involved in any part of a procedure, patients or family members should immediately contact a Personal Injury Lawyer for further assistance in receiving the proper reparations. Currently, most patients are put on anticoagulation medication (blood thinners), which prevents future clots but does not break up the existing clot.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/dvt/deep-vein-thrombosis-causes-are-you-at-risk-for-dvt
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Erin Laing for contributing this post.
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