Patient was educated on complications of deep vein thrombosis as follows:
- Phlebitis and infection: Blocking of the venous blood by the clot can result in pain, pinpoint tenderness, redness and elevation of temperature at the site of venous occlusion along the limb, with localized inflammation and risk for possible infection.
- Pulmonary emboli: Individuals with history of DVT are at increased risk for the clots traveling up along the veins in the limb and get deposited in the pulmonary circulation, as pulmonary emboli, resulting in unprovoked random chest symptoms, such as, sudden onset of chest pain, acutely increased shortness of breath, and dry cough.
- Pulmonary hypertension and edema: Persistent and unresolved pulmonary emboli can obstruct the pulmonary blood flow, thus leading to pulmonary hypertension, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, and pulmonary edema. Individuals can present with episodes of acutely increased shortness of breath, consistently decreasing oxygen saturations, increased effort of breathing, and increased dependence on supplemental oxygen.
