March 18, 2005

Deep-vein thrombosis awareness

Many people may not be aware of the severe impact that a condition called deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) can have in certain patients who are at risk. It is a medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation.

Risk factors triggering DVT may include certain cancers, heart or respiratory diseases, stroke, pregnancy and hospitalization. Symptoms may include tenderness, pain in the leg, swelling and discoloration or redness. If not diagnosed or treated effectively, it may lead to health complications, such as pulmonary embolism (PE) and possibly death. DVT affects up to two million Americans each year.

The MGH Vascular Center is a fully integrated, multispecialty center created to provide comprehensive diagnosis and management of vascular disorders, such as DVT and PE.

In recognition of DVT month, the MGH Vascular Center will host an information table staffed by nurses March 29, from 10 am to 2 pm in the Main Corridor. The center also will sponsor a one-hour DVT symposium March 30, at noon in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, will make introductory remarks, followed by keynote speaker, Melanie Bloom, national spokesperson for the DVT Coalition. Bloom is the widow of David Bloom, an NBC reporter who died of PE while covering the war in Iraq.