Blood Clots and DVT

The NHS pays out an enormous amount every year for claims as a result of failing to diagnose thrombosis or prevent avoidable life threatening blood clots. There are national guidelines that should be followed by healthcare professionals and failure to follow these can be negligent.

A risk assessment should be carried out for patients to assess the risk of thrombosis including the risk of a pulmonary embolism of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

DVT can be very serious. The clot usually becomes apparent by swelling in your lower legs. The clot can spread to your lungs leading to them being starved of oxygen, which can result in death.

An MRI scan can detect a blood clot. If DVT is diagnosed doctors can put in a vena cava filter that blocks any broken blood clots from getting to the lungs.

Failure to take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of DVT occurring, for example, through the provision of  compression stockings, and in some circumstances anticoagulation (blood thinning) drugs is negligent.

Failure to act through urgent thrombolysis can also be negligent. This is often required when a patient has had a stroke.