Patient was educated on findings of DVT to keep a watch for and report to the physician as follows:
- DVT can result in diffuse swelling of the limb below the level of the clot, due to the obstruction to free flow of blood along the vein. Also, the swelling in the involved limb can be strikingly different, with the involved limb clearly swollen in comparison to the limb free of any DVT. Report to your doctor regarding any acute swelling of the limb.
- Blocking of the venous blood by the clot can result in localized inflammation of the vein, with pain and pinpoint tenderness, usually at the level of calf muscle in lower extremity. Inflamed vein can also result in some erythema and redness at the site of the clot deposition along the limb. Report to your doctor regarding any symptoms of acute inflammation along the limb, such as, pain, redness, and local elevation of temperature.
- 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 chest symptoms. Report to your doctor regarding any random chest symptoms, such as, sudden onset of chest pain, acutely increased shortness of breath, and dry cough.
- Persistent and unresolved pulmonary emboli can obstruct the pulmonary blood flow, thus leading to pulmonary hypertension. Individuals with history of pulmonary emboli must keep a close watch for evolving/worsening signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. Report to your doctor regarding any episodes of acutely increased shortness of breath, consistently decreasing oxygen saturations, increasing effort of breathing, and increasing dependence on supplemental oxygen.
- Unresolved pulmonary hypertension over prolonged periods of time can even lead to elevation of pressure on right side of heart with right-sided heart failure. Report to your doctor regarding worsening symptoms of right heart failure, such as, episodes of acutely increased shortness of breath, worsening fluid retention or edema in the lower extremities, consistently decreasing oxygen saturations, increasing effort of breathing, and increasing dependence on supplemental oxygen.
