Glens Falls Hospital now offers minimally
invasive techniques to quickly remove the
common but dangerous deep vein blood clots
that can lead to deadly pulmonary embolisms
or debilitating lifelong leg pain.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that between 300,000
and 600,000 Americans each year develop
deep vein clots, a condition called Deep Vein
Thrombosis (DVT).
Hospital officials said DVT occurs most
often in the deep veins of the leg, resulting
in severe leg pain and swelling. Of greatest
concern with deep vein clots are their ability
to break off and travel to the lungs causing a
life-threatening blockage known as a pulmonary
embolism.
Traditional treatments for DVT have called
for the use of oral anti-coagulant medications, which gradually dissolve
the clot over a three to six month period. However, as a result of
the prolonged blockage of blood flow through
the leg, permanent pain, swelling and inflammation
often occur, the hospital reported.
Vascular surgeons at Glens Falls Hospital
now offer DVT patients a minimally invasive
therapy called thrombolysis that more quickly
removes the clot and restores healthy blood
flow.
Officials said that with minimally invasive
thrombolysis, surgeons guide a catheter to the
clot through a needle puncture in the back of
the knee. The catheter can be equipped with
an ultrasound-emitting device that uses sound
waves to break up the clot, or with a suction
unit to vacuum the clot out. The catheters can
also deliver anti-coagulant drugs directly to the site of the blockage.
Surgeons can use any or all of these techniques
depending on each patient’s individual
situation. In most instances, patients can
return home within 24-48 hours.
“By using minimally invasive thrombolysis,
we can remove deep vein clots more quickly
and effectively and restore the patient’s quality
of life more fully,” said Dr. Nishan Dadian, a
vascular surgeon and chief of surgery at Glens
Falls Hospital. “Glens Falls Hospital continues
to invest in minimally invasive technologies
that advance the quality of care available to
people in our region.”
Dr. Dadian encourages people experiencing
unexplained pain, swelling or discoloration
of their legs to contact their primary care
provider immediately to determine whether
they are experiencing Deep Vein Thrombosis.
Risk factors for DVT include:
• Use of hormone therapy or birth control
pills, both of which can thicken the blood.
• Injury to a deep vein from surgery, a
broken bone or other trauma.
• Slow blood flow due to immobility.
• Pregnancy.
• Age 60 and older (although DVT can occur
at any age).
• Obesity.
• Smoking.
For more information on DVT treatments at
Glens Falls Hospital, call 926-4120.