Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in one of the deep veins in your body, usually in one of your legs. A blood clot that forms in an artery or vein and restricts blood flow is called a thrombus.

A thrombus is often made up of proteins and platelets. Platelets are one of the three major types of blood cells and have a role in helping your blood clot and control bleeding.

Clots can form spontaneously or be provoked by conditions such as:

• Immobility
• Surgery and trauma
• Inflammation of the walls of the vein
• Family history
• Previous cases of DVT
• Cancer
• Acute Illnesses
• Blood Disorders
• Pregnancy

While there are several symptoms of a DVT, imaging is necessary to diagnose the condition and help locate the clot. An ultrasound Doppler examination is a commonly used test to confirm whether a blood clot — or some other health problems — is causing your symptoms.

Deep Vein Thrombosis symptoms include:

• Pain and swelling in the lower leg
• Redness or discolouration of the skin near the clot
• Warmth around the affected area

Symptoms of DVT in the leg are:

• throbbing or cramping pain in 1 leg (rarely both legs), usually in the calf or thigh
• swelling in 1 leg (rarely both legs)
• warm skin around the painful area
• red or darkened skin around the painful area
• swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them

These symptoms can also happen in your arm if that’s where the blood clot is.

If you have any of these symptoms contact your GP immediately.

Ultrasound of the deep veins is routinely done to confirm a suspicion of thrombosis following concerns about unilateral arm or leg swelling, pain or skin discolouration.

During your ultrasound procedure, you will be asked to remove your trousers or shirt to allow for ultrasound imaging of the deep veins in either your arm or leg.

Depending on where the clot is likely to be, you’ll rest your arm or leg at an angle that’s comfortable for you, but also allows the ultrasound the doctor to move the ultrasound “wand” or probe easily on the surface.

A common location for DVT is behind the knee, but a clot can form in any of the deep blood vessels.

Ultrasound gel will be placed across a wide area, from your groin downwards in the leg or from the neck towards the hands in the arms.

The gel helps to form a bond between the skin and the probe, making it easier for the sound waves to reach the blood vessels under the skin.

The probe is moved slowly and gently across, allowing sound waves to penetrate the skin to the blood vessels and tissue underneath.

The waves form images that appear on a computer screen nearby. When a DVT is identified, a still picture of it can be made.

The doctor doing the ultrasound may want to get a few angles of the DVT to better understand its size and location. The procedure should take less than 30 minutes.

After the test, you can clean the ultrasound gel. The doctor will then review the results with you and depending on their diagnosis they will recommend the next steps to take.

No significant preparation is required for this test. 

If the scan is positive for the presence of clots, an immediate referral will be generated for the referring clinician and you will also be given a copy of the report.

Otherwise there is no particular type of care required after a DVT Ultrasound. You may resume your regular diet and daily activities unless your doctor advises you differently.

There are no confirmed adverse biological effects on patients or instrument operators caused by exposures to ultrasound at the intensity levels used in diagnostic ultrasound.

But depending on your particular results, the doctor may give you additional or alternative instructions after the procedure.

Many of our patients are concerned that if they come to us for an ultrasound, they won’t be able to go back to public health. That simply is not the case.

Our goal is to give you answers as quickly as possible and get you on the right treatment path fast – no strings attached.

When you come to us, you will be seen by a qualified specialist who can determine if your situation is serious or not that same day.

We don’t want you to wait weeks on end for an appointment because every minute counts when it comes to something as important as your health.

If your situation is serious, our specialist will write to your doctor on the NHS advising them that you need an urgent appointment.