Oxford University Hospitals
NHS Trust
Information for patients
attending the
DVT Clinic
The Anticoagulation &
Thrombosis Team
What is a Deep Vein Thrombosis, known as a DVT?
A DVT is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg.
Veins are the blood vessels that take blood towards your heart.
Deep leg veins are the larger veins that go through the muscles of
your calf and thigh. A DVT is a blood clot that partly or completely
blocks these deep veins.
Information about the DVT Clinic
This is an out-patient service for the diagnosis and treatment of
DVT. It is based in the Oxford Haemophilia & Thrombosis Centre at
the Churchill Hospital. Most people are referred to the clinic by their
General Practitioner (GP). Your GP will arrange an appointment
time and give you a letter, which you should give to the receptionist
when you arrive. There are ‘disabled’ parking spaces opposite the
entrance to the centre, which you can use for your first appointment.
There are machines for hot and cold drinks in the waiting area.
Please allow about 2 hours to be assessed and have tests. If you
are then found to have a DVT you will need to stay longer (up to
3 hours).
At the weekend and on Bank Holidays the DVT Clinic is held in John
Warin Ward (next door to the Oxford Haemophilia & Thrombosis
Centre). You should wait in the waiting area outside the ward and
the Thrombosis Nurse will come and meet you. You do not need to
let the ward staff know that you are there.
What should I expect?
Nursing assessment – you will be seen by a specialist Thrombosis
Nurse who will assess you to find out whether you are likely to have
a DVT. This includes examining your legs and asking you about your
symptoms and medical history.
Blood Test – you may have a blood test (which is known as a
D-dimer test). This involves taking some blood from a vein in your
arm.
For some patients a negative result means that you do not have a
DVT. Your symptoms, such as pain or swelling, must be caused by
something else. You will need to go back and see your GP. If the
result is positive it means that you may have a DVT, but not that you
definitely do. A positive result can be caused by other things such as
infection or inflammation. The Thrombosis Nurse will explain your
blood test results to you.
Ultrasound scan – if a DVT cannot be excluded with a D-dimer
test you will have an ultrasound scan. Usually the upper part of your
leg only is scanned (behind the knee and the thigh), even if your
symptoms are in your lower leg. This is because clots extending
above the knee are the important ones that must be treated. The
symptoms you have in your lower leg may also be there because of
a clot in your upper leg.
If your first ultrasound scan shows that you do not have a DVT in
your upper leg you may still need to come back after one week for a
second scan. This will be explained to you by the Thrombosis Nurse.
What happens if I can’t get a scan on the day I am
referred?
You will usually have a diagnosis on the day that you are referred.
If you are referred in the afternoon you may not be able to have an
ultrasound scan until the following day. You may then be given an
anticoagulant as either a tablet or an injection. Anticoagulants are
used in the treatment of DVT and are given to you before your first
scan in case you do have a DVT. You may be given this by your GP.
What happens if I am diagnosed with a DVT?
If you have a confirmed DVT you will need to come to the DVT Clinic
for treatment. You will be seen by a doctor at the Clinic during this
time.
A separate leaflet called ‘Information for Patients with a Confirmed
DVT’ gives more information about this.
If you need an interpreter or need a document in another
language, large print, Braille or audio version, please call
01865 221473 or email PALSJR@ouh.nhs.uk
The DVT Clinic, Churchill Hospital, OX3 7LE
Direct line: 01865 225629
Hospital number: 01865 741841 (ask for Bleep 5165)
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