Glens Falls Hospital now offers minimally
\ninvasive techniques to quickly remove the
\ncommon but dangerous deep vein blood clots
\nthat can lead to deadly pulmonary embolisms
\nor debilitating lifelong leg pain.<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and
\nPrevention estimates that between 300,000
\nand 600,000 Americans each year develop
\ndeep vein clots, a condition called Deep Vein
\nThrombosis (DVT).<\/p>\n
Hospital officials said DVT occurs most
\noften in the deep veins of the leg, resulting
\nin severe leg pain and swelling. Of greatest
\nconcern with deep vein clots are their ability
\nto break off and travel to the lungs causing a
\nlife-threatening blockage known as a pulmonary
\nembolism.
\nTraditional treatments for DVT have called
\nfor the use of oral anti-coagulant medications, which gradually dissolve
\nthe clot over a three to six month period. However, as a result of
\nthe prolonged blockage of blood flow through
\nthe leg, permanent pain, swelling and inflammation
\noften occur, the hospital reported.<\/p>\n
Vascular surgeons at Glens Falls Hospital
\nnow offer DVT patients a minimally invasive
\ntherapy called thrombolysis that more quickly
\nremoves the clot and restores healthy blood
\nflow.<\/p>\n
Officials said that with minimally invasive
\nthrombolysis, surgeons guide a catheter to the
\nclot through a needle puncture in the back of
\nthe knee. The catheter can be equipped with
\nan ultrasound-emitting device that uses sound
\nwaves to break up the clot, or with a suction
\nunit to vacuum the clot out. The catheters can
\nalso deliver anti-coagulant drugs directly to the site of the blockage.<\/p>\n
Surgeons can use any or all of these techniques
\ndepending on each patient’s individual
\nsituation. In most instances, patients can
\nreturn home within 24-48 hours.<\/p>\n
“By using minimally invasive thrombolysis,
\nwe can remove deep vein clots more quickly
\nand effectively and restore the patient’s quality
\nof life more fully,” said Dr. Nishan Dadian, a
\nvascular surgeon and chief of surgery at Glens
\nFalls Hospital. “Glens Falls Hospital continues
\nto invest in minimally invasive technologies
\nthat advance the quality of care available to
\npeople in our region.”<\/p>\n
Dr. Dadian encourages people experiencing
\nunexplained pain, swelling or discoloration
\nof their legs to contact their primary care
\nprovider immediately to determine whether
\nthey are experiencing Deep Vein Thrombosis.<\/p>\n
Risk factors for DVT include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Use of hormone therapy or birth control
\npills, both of which can thicken the blood.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Injury to a deep vein from surgery, a
\nbroken bone or other trauma.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Slow blood flow due to immobility.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Pregnancy.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Age 60 and older (although DVT can occur
\nat any age).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Obesity.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Smoking.<\/p>\n
For more information on DVT treatments at
\nGlens Falls Hospital, call 926-4120.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n