| Deep vein thrombosis is a problem that is caused | | | | redness. This most likely occurs only in one leg or |
| by pooling of blood in the vein, which triggers | | | | extremity. Symptoms of DVT may include |
| blood-clotting mechanisms. Anyone who sits for | | | | varicose veins, tenderness, pain, swelling, and |
| long periods of time in a vehicle, movie theater, or | | | | redness in the affected limb. Other conditions that |
| even an office desk may develop clumps of | | | | exhibit similar symptoms include skin infections in |
| clotted blood in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis | | | | particular, and muscle strains. |
| (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot, known as | | | | Symptoms can appear several weeks after flights |
| a thrombus, in the deep leg vein. It is a very | | | | as short as three hours. Such clots have been |
| serious condition that can cause permanent | | | | reported after automobile trips and even after |
| damage to the leg, known as post-thrombotic | | | | evenings at the theatre, but long flights seem to |
| syndrome, or a life-threatening pulmonary | | | | pose a greater risk. |
| embolism. Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot | | | | Recent advances in endovascular technologies |
| (thrombosis) that forms in the deep vein system | | | | have led to the development of a variety of |
| of the lower leg--usually between the ankle and | | | | minimally invasive, catheter-based strategies to |
| the upper calf. The condition is serious, potentially | | | | remove venous thrombus. These technologies |
| fatal, and very difficult to diagnose by external | | | | utilize various mechanical principles, including |
| examination. | | | | catheter-directed thrombolytic infusion, rheolytic |
| Deep vein thrombosis is a type of | | | | thrombectomy, mechanical fragmentation or |
| thrombophlebitis. However, it should not be | | | | ultrasound energy to remove intraluminal |
| confused with a less dangerous form of | | | | thrombus. Recent years, a symptom called |
| thrombophlebitis called superficial vein thrombosis | | | | economy-class syndrome This symptom may |
| (SVT or phlebitis). Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, | | | | cause a blood circulation disorder such as |
| also called venous thrombosis) is a blood clot that | | | | thrombosis resultant from sitting on a narrow |
| develops in a vein deep in the body. The clot may | | | | seat in an airplane for many hours without moving |
| partially or completely block blood flow through | | | | legs. |
| the vein. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs | | | | We recommend that people under taking lengthy |
| when a blood clot forms in a vein, usually in the | | | | travel plans try to stand occasionally and flex the |
| leg. Since blood in veins is returning to the lungs | | | | leg muscles to assist the blood flow in the veins. |
| for oxygenation, the clot can be pushed into the | | | | In airplanes this can be difficult so flexing your |
| lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, which can | | | | ankles to assist blood flow back up the leg will |
| result in partial or full restriction of blood supply to | | | | reduce pooling problems. We also recommend |
| the lungs. | | | | compression stocking or socks for those who |
| Symptoms include leg pain or swelling, tenderness | | | | already have a venous condition as the gradient |
| of leg tissue, increased leg warmth and increase in | | | | compression will also assist in continuing blood flow. |