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Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Arms

In recent years, there has been a growing phenomenon among the aging population in which the development of blood clots occur in disorder. As a life-altering complication, indicative of impaired vascular health, blood clots, in the upper extremities, should not be ignored.

Of the many complications associated with clots of the upper extremity, many sufferers of this vascular condition, almost 12 percent, will experience blood clotting of the lungs and, in very rare cases, the complications will become fatal.

Caused by a disorder of the ribs, usually after a minor slip and fall accident, the blood clot, in the When suffering from blood clots of the upper extremities, the patient will first notice a significant degree of swelling with some pain and loss of range of motion in the affected. While the pain and swelling may come and go, often the will not heal on its own and will require the assistance of medical attention.

To treat a blood clot of the upper extremity, patients will commonly seek out the attention of a cardiovascular surgeon who will begin treatment by supply a dose of blood thinning medications, usually heparin. When this procedure is not successful, the cardiovascular surgeon will often place a filter into the superior vena cava to remove or dissolve the clot before pulmonary embolism occurs.

Even in patients where the of the upper extremity is not fatal, the long-term implications are substantial. Without treatment, the blood clot will continue to pool blood, resulting in prolonged swelling of the and, eventually, render the immobile. In fact, nearly 75 percent of patients who are untreated will show evidence of paralysis in that for the remainder of their lives.

As with any cardiovascular complication, the key to avoiding long-term complications, including death, is to seek out early intervention and diagnosis. As with the case of swelling and pain in the upper extremities, it is essential to seek out the attention of a cardiovascular surgeon to rule out and, if necessary, treat the condition of in the upper extremity.