A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that has formed in a vein and can lead to damage of the blood vessels. The most common areas to find a DVT are in the veins of your leg, especially in the calf and thigh areas. Less commonly they may be found in the veins of an arm. Symptoms may be swelling, redness, and/or tenderness in that region. A DVT can also cause a serious lung problem called a pulmonary embolism. A clot in the vein can break away from the vessel and travel to the lungs, which blocks the blood circulation to the lungs. Patients may experience difficulty breathing and chest pain due to this blockage. Coumadin® (warfarin) lowers the chance of blood clots forming, which lowers your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism.

St. Anthony's Anticoagulation Clinic