Deep Venous Thrombosis

Plastic surgeons tend to overlook the prospect of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), or blood clotting, in their patients during operations. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a recent report that in excess of 18,000 patients suffer from DVT annually. But in another survey, more than 50 percent of the surgeons who took part said that they do not take any precautions against DVT over the course of surgery.

There are numerous methods that can be utilized to detect the presence of DVT:

Compression ultrasonography -- uses sound waves to generate images of patient's leg.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- generates very accurate pictures, but it may not be the right choice for all cases.
Ventilation/Perfusion lung scanning -- scan performed after radioactive particles are breathed in.
Pulmonary angiography -- dye injected through a catheter is examined.
Spiral Computed Tomography (CT scan) -- patient is penetrated with dye which is subsequently analyzed by computers. This may be unsuitable for some cases.

DVT is no laughing matter, and measures must be carefully taken to prevent the arrival of any symptoms related to the condition. People who are genetically predisposed to developing blood clots have a disorder known as inherited thrombophilia. Acquired thrombophilia is not something present at birth; patients who have had previous surgery, experienced trauma, are pregnant or obese, use specific medication, have been immobilized for an extended amount of time, have blood disorders, or have kidney issues are more prone to having problems associated with thrombophilia.

If you have had plastic surgery and are unsure whether your surgeon attempted to protect you from developing a blood clot, this is something that you should insist upon knowing. If you begin to notice any symptom unique to DVT during your recovery and believe that your physician may have been negligent in their efforts to prevent the onset of it, contact a medical malpractice attorney with a background in DVT to get an expert opinion on the subject.

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