What Are the Treatments for DVT Below the Knee?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a large deep vein, usually in a lower leg. Treatment for DVT prevents clots from getting larger, helps to dissolve them and prevents them from flowing into the lungs.

Anticoagulants

• Anticoagulants keep clots from getting bigger and prevent the formation of new ones while the body dissolves existing clots. Heparin injections are usually administered for the first few days and are followed by warfarin pills, which are taken for a few months.

Thrombolytics

• Thrombolytics break apart blood clots. These are administered by IV and reserved for the most serious cases, since they can cause excessive bleeding.

Umbrella Filters

• If medications are not successful, a doctor may insert a tiny wire umbrella into the vena cava in the abdomen. This acts as a filter that prevents clots from entering the lungs.

Compression Stockings

• Compression stockings apply pressure to your lower legs and help prevent the pooling and clotting of blood. The Mayo Clinic recommends wearing the stockings for a year after DVT develops.

Surgery

• If the blood clot is large, surgery may be necessary in order to remove it from the vein, though this is not a common treatment for DVT.