Other underlying medical conditions which do not allow for anticoagulant medication, include a filter inserted into a large vein. This filter prevents any clot that breaks loose from lodging in the lungs, which is ultimately the most serious side effect of a deep vein thrombosis. Compression stockings may be needed to help prevent swelling. The pressure helps to reduce the chance that the blood will continue to clot and cause more deep vein or superficial vein thrombosis. Individuals who have been diagnosed with the deep vein thrombosis should wear their compression stockings for at least one year if possible.
In a pilot study released in 2008, researchers from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland found that injections of fiber-binding thrombolytic agent around the clot will effectively treat the area and reduce the risk of a recurrence. The treatment appears to clear the clots and restore blood flow quickly. (5)
