DVT - lower limb

Sign and symptoms

•  Throbbing or cramping pain in affected leg
• Usually calf or thigh
• Swelling
• Warmth around site
• Red or darkened skin
• Swollen veins- painful to touch
• Breathless or chest pain may be pulmonary embolus
• Positive Homans sign
• Wells criteria for DVT.

Risk factors

• Over 60
• Obesity
• Smoker
• History of thrombophilia
• Oral contraceptive/HRT
• Malignancy
• Heart failure
• Varicose veins
• Prolonged bed rest/travel
• Pregnancy,

Urgent referral to local Ambulatory care clinic.

Alternatively request urgent D-dimer test and arrange urgent USS with consideration to A&E depending on Wells score.