Consequences of a thrombosis in the leg | Thrombosis in the leg

Consequences of a thrombosis in the leg

By far the most feared consequence of a thrombosis in the leg is pulmonary embolism. It occurs when the thrombus loses its adhesion to the vessel wall and is transported with the bloodstream into the lung, where it closes an artery. This occurs when the leg is moved, for example when standing up.

In the course of a pulmonary embolism, respiratory disorders, chest pain, tachycardia and, in the worst case, shock, which is usually fatal, occur. Many patients die from pulmonary embolism. In the event of sudden onset of chest pain or breathing difficulties after or during a thrombosis in the leg, the emergency call must be made immediately. Another complication of thrombosis in the leg is the recurrence of thrombosis (recurrence of thrombosis). Blood-thinning medications provide relief.

How dangerous is a thrombosis in the leg?

In principle, thrombosis always requires a visit to a doctor. Even the smallest clots can be dissolved by the body’s natural clot-dissolving system and never cause any discomfort. In this case, the person affected does not notice the thrombosis.

However, it is also a fact that a clot gives further blood platelets a chance to clump and can become larger. It can also “wander”, i.e. move to another part of the body and damage organs there. Since deep vein thrombosis can develop into pulmonary embolism, or severe swelling that can cause the leg to die, leg vein thrombosis must be considered dangerous. The earlier you go to the doctor when you have complaints, the better!

Prognosis

The prognosis of a thrombosis in the leg is the better, the earlier the disease has been detected and treated. The longer the thrombosis in the leg remains untreated, the greater the risk of developing the so-called postthrombotic symptom. This leads to chronic venous weakness, which in turn leads to the development of varicose veins.

With every varicose vein, however, the risk of developing a new thrombosis (recurrence of thrombosis) also increases. The longer the treatment of a thrombosis is postponed, the higher the risk of a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolisms are far more difficult to treat than thromboses in the leg and therefore often end fatally.