Both facilities offer advance treatment options for those with DVT.

March has recently been designated as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month and Sharon Regional Medical Center and Trumbull Regional Medical Center are joining the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) in spreading awareness about life-threatening blood clots. Every year, more than 100,000 people die from blood clots in the U.S. yet, blood clots are often preventable and can be safely treated when caught early.

A DVT is when a blood clot forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower extremities and can partially or completely block blood flow in the vein. If left untreated, a part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a blockage known as a Pulmonary Embolism (PE). 

Signs and symptoms of a blood clot can be identified using the acronym STOP the CLOT—Swelling in the leg, Tenderness or leg cramping, Out of breath, Passing out or feeling lightheaded, Chest pain, Leg discoloration (red/blue hue), Overdrive (racing heart), and if you identify any of these symptoms its Time to call 911. Risk factors for DVT include hypercoagulable states such as pregnancy, malignancy or thrombophilia, venous stasis such as immobilization and obesity, and lastly, endothelial damage such as surgery, age over 60, hypertension, smoking or previous DVT. 

“We offer several advanced methods to treat DVT at both Sharon Regional and Trumbull Regional Medical Center including catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), mechanical thrombectomy, or surgical thrombectomy in cases where timely alleviation of DVT symptoms is prioritized to prevent gangrene or post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS)”, said Ali Kimyaghalam, MD, Vascular Surgeon at Sharon Regional and Trumbull Regional Medical Center. “In addition, the FlowTriever is a sheathed catheter system that uses a self-expanding nitinol mesh funnel to optimally remove clots. The primary indication for this device is the removal of DVT's that have a large clot.”

DVT is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States and accounts for more than 100,000 deaths and about 250,000 hospital admissions per year and PE accounts for 100,000 deaths per year in the United States. PE’s are classified into three categories, including massive, submassive, and low risk; with massive having the most hemodynamic instability and low risk having no hemodynamic instability.

Sharon Regional and Trumbull Regional Medical Center have joined the community Thrombassador program, promoting education about DVT’s and clots. Taking quick action when the signs and symptoms of blood clots appear saves lives. Know the signs and symptoms represented by the acronym STOP CLOT to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Learn more about vascular services at Sharon Regional Medical Center at sharonregionalmedical.org and at Trumbull Regional Medical Center at trumbullregional.org.