The most common symptoms of DVT are localized pain,
tenderness, and swelling (difference in leg circumference of at least 1.4 cm in
men and 1.2 cm in women). However,
symptoms may be tough to distinguish as approximately one half of patients are
asymptomatic. Other common symptoms
include localized redness or warmth, dilated veins, and fever with possible
chills and malaise. Patients may have
DVT in bilateral legs though symptoms typically present unilaterally.
Clinical signs and symptoms of DVT
"Symptoms can serve only as a trigger for further diagnostic inquiry; they cannot, by themselves, rule a DVT in or out"
(Farris J. and Heick J.,2010)
References
Clinical signs and symptoms of DVT
"Symptoms can serve only as a trigger for further diagnostic inquiry; they cannot, by themselves, rule a DVT in or out"
(Farris J. and Heick J.,2010)
- Localized unilateral
tenderness or leg pain, dull ache, or tightness
- Localized unilateral
swelling
- Localized warmth
- Subcutaneous
venous distention
- Localized discoloration
- Palpable cord
(superficial vein involvement)
- Pain with blood
pressure cuff placement around calf and then inflated to 160 mm to 180 mm Hg
References
- Farris, James, DPT, PHD. Heick, John DPT, PHD. Screening for DVT’s with Clinical Guidelines, 2012 pathology lecture, Arizona School of Health Sciences
- Goodman, C. C., Teresa E. Kelly snyder. (2007). Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists Screening for Referral: Saunders Elsevier.