Also Known As:

What is Femoral Vein Thrombosis?

Thrombosis is a general term describing the condition which occurs when a blood clot develops within a blood vessel, causing the blood flow to be restricted or completely stopped.

Femoral Vein Thrombosis is a type of Venous Thrombosis, that occurs when a blood clot forms in a Femoral Vein. The femoral vein runs along the inside of the legs from the groin area downward.

Femoral Vein Thrombosis commonly develops into a very serious condition called a Pulmonary Embolism. This occurs when blood clots in the veins break loose, travel through the bloodstream and block the flow of blood to the lungs.

Causes

Virchow’s Triad (or the Triad of Virchow), describes the three broad categories that are thought to contribute to Thrombosis:
•   Hypercoagulability: Abnormalities in blood coagulation, fibrinolytic pathways and in platelet function
•   Vascular Wall Injury/Dysfunction: Injuries and/or trauma to the interior lining of blood vessels
•   Circulatory Stasis: The slowing or stopping of blood flow

Factors that can increase the risk of developing Femoral Vein Thrombosis include:
•   Blood-clotting disorders
•   Prolonged bed rest, such as during a long hospital stay, or paralysis
•   Injury or surgery
•   Infections
•   Pregnancy
•   Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
•   Cancer and cancer treatment
•   Blood-clotting disorders
•   Being overweight or obese
•   Smoking
•   Heart failure
•   Inflammatory Bowel Disease
•   A personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
•   Old age
•   Sitting for long periods of time, such as when driving or flying.

Symptoms

People may not find out that they have Femoral Vein Thrombosis until they’ve gone through emergency treatment for a Pulmonary Embolism.
The most common symptoms of Femoral Vein Thrombosis include:
•   Swelling in the affected leg. Rarely, there’s swelling in both legs.
•   Pain in the affected leg.
•   Red or discoloured skin on the leg
•   A feeling of warmth in the affected leg
•   Bruised skin on the leg
•   Hardening of the vein
•   Low-grade fever

If a person notices any symptoms of Femoral Vein Thrombosis, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention, because severe life-threatening complications can occur.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Femoral Vein Thrombosis is diagnosed by a Doctor using a physical examination and blood tests. The Doctor may also order the following tests:
•   Ultrasound Scan
•   D-Dimer blood test
•   MRI Scan
•   Venogram
•   X-Ray

The severity of the Femoral Vein Thrombosis will determine the exact treatment used. The main treatments include:
•   Anticoagulant Medications
•   Antiplatelet Medications
•   Compression stockings
•   Inferior Vena Cava Filter
•   Endovascular treatment
•   Surgery
•   Thrombolytic Medications
•   Physical activity such as walking

Additional Information

Also see: Thrombosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis