CONDITION

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)

BLOOD CLOTS & VENOUS CIRCULATION

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) refers to blood clots that form in the veins, most commonly deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Evaluation focuses on clot location, symptom severity, risk factors, and preventing complications or recurrence.
  • Includes DVT and pulmonary embolism
  • May cause swelling, pain, or shortness of breath
  • Evaluation depends on clot location
  • Follow-up helps reduce recurrence risk
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Evaluation & Next Steps

  • Clear severity assessment and next steps
  • Supportive care and recovery guidance
  • Care across 4 Las Vegas locations
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Quick Summary

Key Takeaway: Venous thromboembolism can range from a leg clot to a lung clot, so symptoms, risk factors, and clot location guide urgency and treatment planning.

VTE care may involve urgent evaluation, imaging, anticoagulation review, symptom monitoring, and follow-up planning. The goal is to treat the current clot, reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism, and help prevent recurrence when possible.

Overview

What is Venous Thromboembolism?

Venous thromboembolism is a medical term for blood clots that develop in the venous system. DVT usually forms in the deep veins of the leg or pelvis, while pulmonary embolism occurs when clot material travels to the lungs.

Why Evaluation Matters

Evaluation helps determine where the clot is located, how severe it is, whether urgent care is needed, and what follow-up is appropriate to reduce complications or future clot risk.

Symptoms

VTE symptoms depend on whether the clot is in a limb, pelvis, or lungs. Some clots cause obvious symptoms, while others are found during evaluation for another concern.

Leg Swelling or Pain

DVT may cause one-sided swelling, aching, tenderness, warmth, or tightness in the leg.

Skin Warmth or Color Change

The affected limb may feel warmer or look red, bluish, or more swollen than usual.

Chest Pain or Shortness of Breath

Pulmonary embolism can cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or coughing blood.

Pelvic or Whole-Leg Swelling

Clots higher in the pelvis or upper leg may cause more extensive swelling, heaviness, or discomfort.

Seek care now if…

Seek emergency care for sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing blood, fainting, severe one-sided leg swelling, or symptoms that feel sudden or rapidly worsening.

Causes & Risk Factors

VTE can develop when blood flow slows, clotting tendency increases, or a vein is injured. Risk often comes from a combination of medical, surgical, lifestyle, and inherited factors.

Common Causes

  • Reduced mobility or bed rest
  • Recent surgery or hospitalization
  • Vein injury or inflammation
  • Inherited or acquired clotting tendency
Risk-factor review helps guide testing, treatment duration, recurrence prevention, and whether additional specialty coordination is needed.

Risk Factors

  • Prior DVT or PE
  • Recent surgery or trauma
  • Cancer or active treatment
  • Pregnancy or recent childbirth
  • Hormone therapy or birth control
  • Long travel or immobility
  • Obesity or smoking history
  • Family history of blood clots

Diagnosis

Diagnosis focuses on confirming whether a clot is present, identifying its location, checking for PE warning signs, and reviewing medical factors that affect treatment planning.

Typical Evaluation

  • Review symptoms and timing
  • Assess clot risk factors
  • Venous ultrasound when appropriate
  • CT imaging when PE is suspected
  • Lab review when clinically needed

What to Bring

  • Medication list
  • Prior clot history
  • Recent surgery or travel details
  • Prior ultrasound or CT reports
  • Family clotting history

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on clot location, severity, bleeding risk, symptoms, recurrence risk, and whether pulmonary embolism or extensive vein blockage is suspected.
Related care may include anticoagulation review, vascular imaging, compression guidance, symptom monitoring, and image-guided treatment discussion for selected cases.

Risk Management

  • Review clot risk factors
  • Assess bleeding risk
  • Coordinate medication planning
  • Reduce recurrence triggers

Monitoring & Symptom Protection

  • Track swelling and pain
  • Watch PE warning signs
  • Use compression when advised
  • Follow activity guidance

Image-Guided Treatment Options

  • Ultrasound evaluation
  • CT imaging when needed
  • Thrombectomy discussion in select cases
  • Venous stenting review when appropriate

Follow-Up Evaluation

  • Medication follow-up
  • Repeat imaging when needed
  • Persistent swelling review
  • Recurrence prevention planning

Recovery

Recovery from VTE depends on clot location, symptom severity, treatment response, and whether long-term risk factors need ongoing management.

What Helps Most

  • Taking medication as directed and reporting side effects
  • Keeping follow-up visits to review symptoms and treatment duration
  • Using compression when recommended for leg symptoms
  • Staying active safely within medical guidance
  • Recognizing PE symptoms that require emergency care

When to Follow Up

  • Swelling or pain worsens despite treatment
  • Shortness of breath or chest pain develops suddenly
  • Bleeding or medication issues occur
  • Symptoms return after improvement
  • Repeat imaging is recommended
  • Long-term prevention needs review

Frequently Asked Questions

Venous thromboembolism is a term for blood clots in the venous system, most commonly deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

DVT is one type of VTE. VTE also includes pulmonary embolism, which occurs when clot material travels to the lungs.

DVT may cause leg swelling, pain, warmth, or color change. PE may cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or coughing blood.

Diagnosis may include symptom review, risk-factor review, venous ultrasound, CT imaging when pulmonary embolism is suspected, and lab review when appropriate.

Treatment may include anticoagulation, symptom monitoring, compression guidance, follow-up imaging, and image-guided treatment discussion in selected cases.

Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing blood, fainting, or severe rapidly worsening leg swelling should be treated as urgent or emergency symptoms.

Locations

LVVIS offers vein evaluation and treatment planning at multiple Las Vegas locations. Choose the office that is most convenient when scheduling your visit.

LVVIS West Side Consultation Office

8930 W Sunset Rd, Suite 350
Las Vegas, NV 89148

Consultations and vascular evaluations

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LV2 Limb & Vascular Division

8930 W Sunset Rd, Suite 350
Las Vegas, NV 89148

Limb preservation and podiatry partnership care

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LVVIS East Procedure Office

2250 E Flamingo Rd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Procedures, diagnostics, and circulatory care

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LVVIS West Side Surgical Center

6120 S Fort Apache Rd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89148

Advanced vascular and interventional procedures

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