Deep vein thrombosis: An experience of 25 years from north India

Abstract

Background and Aim: Unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin is the treatment for established lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study was performed to report our experience of treating the same with UFH. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with lower limb DVT managed between 1983 and 2014 at Jawaharlal Medical College, Aligarh, India. Results: This analysis included 83 males and 210 females. Mean age of patients was 34.5 ΁ 11.5 years. Most common age group involved in was 20-30 years (33.79%). Most common symptom was limb swelling (90.8%). Most common risk factor was postpartum period. Among postpartum group, primigravida was most commonly involved group. Left limb involvement was found in 195 patients (65.8%). Proximal DVT was present in 215 (73.33%) patients. In proximal patient group, 74.41% presented with more than 90% block while in distal patient group, 66.67% presented with more than 90% block of the venous system. After 3 weeks of treatment, 29.52% and 15.49% were found to have block of proximal and distal deep veins, respectively, which further declined to 1.78% and 3.45% after 6 months of presentation with continued treatment. Six patients died during the course of treatment. Conclusion: Lower limb DVT respond well to UFH, hence should be used for treatment of same with comparable results. DVT can lead to fatal pulmonary embolism and patients should be admitted till target International Normalized Ratio is achieved.

Keywords

• Deep vein thrombosis
• International Normalized Ratio
• low-molecular-weight heparin
• unfractionated heparin