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Dr. Andrew Atiemo explains how your risk for developing VTE (blood clots) can increase and describes the ways venous thromboembolism is treated. Dr. Atiemo is an experienced cardiologist at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Arizona.
Dr. Atiemo:
There are a number of things that would put one at increased risk for having this condition. The key factors include any form of immobility. For example, patients who have been on extremely long plane rides can form clots within the legs. Other things to consider would include surgery, trauma; cancer is also a risk factor. Important for women to know also is that being on oral contraceptives or taking hormone replacement therapy can also increase the risk for having clots form. This risk is particularly increased in association with tobacco use.
An additional risk factor for having venous thromboembolism is having a family history of clotting or of thrombosis. If this is present in one’s history then it may be necessary to have a formal evaluation by a hematologist to look for other genetic causes of clotting.
The mainstay of therapy for venous thromboembolism is anticoagulation. Often patients are treated with Heparin, which is a blood thinner, and then they are transitioned over to an oral anticoagulant such as Coumadin or Warfarin.
For patients who are at risk of bleeding who may not be a candidate for blood thinners, there are other treatment options including the placement of an inferior vena cava filter. This is a device that helps to track clots before they can reach the heart.
About Dr. Andrew D. Atiemo, M.D., F.A.C.C.:
Dr. Atiemo is a cardiologist on staff at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, AZ. After completing his medical education at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Atiemo trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a Harvard teaching hospital. His passion for cardiology lead him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland where he trained in general cardiology and interventional cardiology.
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Keywords:
Condition: Heart Disease, VTE, Deep Venous Thromboembolism, Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiomyopathy, Cardiovascular Disease, Pulmonary Embolism
Related Terms: Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Support, Chest Pain, Cardiac Catheterization, Stress Test, Weak Heart Muscle, Vascular Trauma, Heart Muscle Inflammation, Blood Clots, Enlarged Heart
Health Care Provider: Banner Hospital, Banner Medical Center, Banner Health, Banner Thunderbird, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, Banner Thunderbird Hospital
Location: Glendale, Arizona, Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler, Surprise, North Phoenix, 85306
Expert: Dr. Andrew Atiemo, Andrew Atiemo, M.D., Dr. Atiemo, Doctor Andrew Atiemo, Cardiologist Andrew Atiemo, M.D.
Expertise: Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Heart Catheterization, Balloon Angioplasty, Rheolytic Thrombectomy, AngioJet®, Acute Coronary Syndromes, Preventive Cardiology, Stress Cardiomyopathy