Venous Thromboembolism and Phlebitis

 
Venous thromboembolism refers to a blood clot in a vein and the detachment of a fragment of this clot ending up in other organs such as the lungs. The most common location of thrombosis in pregnancy is in the deep veins of the legs, causing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If DVT is not treated, 24% of women with DVT will have a pulmonary embolism and 15% will die from it.

The symptoms of DVT include swelling and pain in the leg, usually the left calf. This swelling produces a condition known as phlebitis where a vein becomes inflamed when blood clots within it. If phlebitis is diagnosed, an anticoagulation drug such as Heparin will be administered. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism which may results from a blood clot in the lungs, include a shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid breathing and heart rates, cough and fever. This condition is also treated with Heparin.

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