What We Do > Vascular & Interventional Procedures > Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment (DVT)
DVT Lysis and Interior Vena Cava Filter Placement
A Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a large blood clot that has developed in the deep veins in an upper or lower extremity (an arm or a leg). This can cause redness, swelling, and tenderness in the extremity, and poses multiple risks to the patient, including:
- Pulmonary embolism (which happens when a piece of the blood clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs and can be fatal)
- Post-thrombotic syndrome (long-term pain, swelling, and ulcerations of the legs)
- Limb ischemia (when the pressure in the legs becomes so high that it can obstruct the blood flow through the arteries and cause limb death).
Deep Vein Thrombolysis is a procedure which entails breaking up a blood clot using mechanical or chemical means. Mechanically, a catheter is inserted which then rapidly injects saline into the clot, thereby liquifing it, and then draws it back out into the machine. Chemically, medications such as tPA and Heparin may be used which digest the clot and help dissolve it so that is may be reabsorbed by the body. These methods can be used separately or in conjunction with each other.
An Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter is a metal basket of various designs which are placed in the largest vein (vena cava) in the abdomen to trap clots from going to the lungs. Vena cava filters are used when blood thinners pose excessive risk for bleeding (such as recent stroke, recent surgery, brain tumors, bleeding ulcers, eye hemorrhage), and when patients have lung clots despite adequate anticoagulation. Vena cava filters are also placed in order to catch any clots that may be projected upward from the legs into the inferior vena cava during a DVT lysis procedure. Vena cava filters are more than 90% efficient in preventing clots from traveling to the lungs. Some filters are considered retrievable, meaning that they may be retrieved and removed if the patient no longer needs it in place.
For more information on preparing for DVT Lysis:
- A representative will call you prior to your procedure to review instructions and complete registration.
- You will need to arrange for a driver to take you home
PRE-OP:
- Do not eat or drink anything for 12 hours prior to your procedure.
- Make sure to let your doctor know if you are on any blood thinners, including Coumadin (Warfarin), Heparin, Lovenox, Plavix or over-the-counter medications such as Aspirin.
- Make sure to tell your doctor if you are, or could be, pregnant.
INTRA-OP:
- The procedure itself is not painful, however light sedation medications will be administered through an IV in order to prevent any discomfort.
- A catheter will be placed into the vein that contains the clot, usually starting in the back of the knee, after local anesthetic has been applied.
- The physician will then proceed to break up the clot within the vein, and aspirate the clot into the catheter.
- After all, or most, of the clot has been removed, the catheter will be removed from the vein, and a sterile dressing will be applied to the site.
POST-OP:
- You will be monitored for approximately 2 - 4 hours, and then may be discharged to home.
- You may resume light activities after 24 hours and may resume your normal activities after 48 hours.
- If you develop fever or severe pain contact our office at 352.333.7(VIP) or call your referring physician. After hours or on week-ends, go to the nearest emergency room or call North Florida Regional Medical Center at 352.333.4000 and ask for the Radiologist on Call.
For more information on IVC Filter Placement:
- A representative will call you prior to your procedure to review instructions and complete registration.
- You will need to arrange for a driver to take you home.
PRE-OP:
- Do not eat or drink anything for 12 hours prior to your procedure.
- Make sure to let your doctor know if you are on any blood thinners, including Coumadin (Warfarin), Heparin, Lovenox, Plavix or over-the-counter medications such as Aspirin.
- Make sure to tell your doctor if you are, or could be, pregnant.
INTRA-OP:
- The procedure itself is not painful, however light sedation medications will be administered through an IV in order to prevent any discomfort.
- These filters are usually placed through the large vein in the neck, the Internal Jugular vein. Local anesthetic, Lidocaine, will be administered to the neck prior to accessing the vein.
- An x-ray dye study is then done of the vena cava prior to placing the filter by injecting x-ray contrast (“dye”) into this vein.
- After the area has been visualized, the filter will be painlessly deployed.
- After the filter has been successfully placed, the catheters will be removed, and a sterile dressing will be applied to the site in the neck.
POST-OP:
- You will have to be monitored for approximately 2 - 4 hours, and then may be discharged to home.
- You may resume your normal activities after 24 hours.
For more information on IVC Filter Removal:
- A representative will call you prior to your procedure to review instructions and complete registration.
- You will need to arrange for a driver to take you home.
PRE-OP:
- Do not eat or drink anything for 12 hours prior to your procedure.
- Make sure to let your doctor know if you are on any blood thinners, including Coumadin (Warfarin), Heparin, Lovenox, Plavix or over-the-counter medications such as Aspirin.
- Make sure to tell your doctor if you are, or could be, pregnant.
INTRA-OP:
- The procedure itself is not painful, however light sedation medications will be administered through an IV in order to prevent any discomfort.
- The same area in the neck that was used to place the filter will again be accessed after application of local anesthetic.
- A catheter and snare will be inserted into the vena cava and will be used to snare the filter.
The filter will then be removed, and a sterile dressing will be applied to the site in the neck.
POST-OP:
- You will be monitored for approximately 2 - 4 hours, and then may be discharged to home.
You may resume your normal activities after 24 hours.
- If you develop fever or severe pain contact our office at 352.333.7(VIP) or call your referring physician. After hours or on week-ends, go to the nearest emergency room or call North Florida Regional Medical Center at 352.333.4000 and ask for the Radiologist on Call.
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Vascular & Interventional Physicians
6685 NW 9th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32605
Phone: 352.333.7VIP (7847)
Direct Spine Line: 352. 313. 6873
Fax: 352.333.0990
Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
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