Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - Preventing deep vein thrombosis

If you are admitted to hospital or are planning to go into hospital for surgery, your healthcare team will assess your risk of developing a blood clot while you are there.

Surgery and some medical treatments can increase your risk of developing DVT – see causes of DVT for more information.

If you are considered at risk of DVT, there are various recommendations your healthcare team can make to prevent a blood clot occurring.

Before you go into hospital

If you are planning to have an operation and are taking the combined contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you will be advised to stop the drugs temporarily four weeks before you have your operation.

Similarly, if you are taking a drug to prevent blood clots, such as aspirin, you may be advised to stop taking this one week before your operation.

There is less risk of DVT when you have a local rather than general anaesthetic. If it is possible for you to have a local anaesthetic, your healthcare team will discuss this with you.

While you are in hospital

There are a number of things your healthcare team can do to help reduce your risk of DVT while in hospital.

They should make sure you have enough to drink and do not become dehydrated. They should also make sure you start to move around as soon as you are able to.

Depending on your risk factors, you may also be offered:

anticoagulant medicine, which helps prevent blood clots
compression stockings or a compression device to help keep the blood in your legs circulating

Compression stockings are worn around your feet, lower legs and thighs, and fit tightly to encourage your blood to flow more quickly around your body.

Compression devices are inflatable and work in the same way as compression stockings, inflating at regular intervals to squeeze your legs and encourage blood flow.

When you leave hospital

You may need to continue treatment with compression stockings or an anticoagulant medicine when you leave hospital.

Before you leave, your healthcare team should advise you how to use your treatment, how long it should continue for, and who to contact if you are having any problems.

Exercise

Your healthcare team will usually advise you to engage in regular walking exercise once compression socks have been prescribed.

This can help prevent symptoms of DVT returning and may help improve or prevent complications of DVT, such as post-thrombotic syndrome.

Smoking and diet

You can reduce your risk of DVT by making changes to your lifestyle, such as:

not smoking
eating a healthy, balanced diet
getting regular exercise
maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you are obese

Travelling

If you are at risk of getting a DVT or have had a DVT previously, consult your GP before embarking on long-distance travel.

If you are planning a long-distance plane, train or car journey (journeys of six hours or more), ensure that you:

drink plenty of water
avoid excessive alcohol, as it can lead to dehydration
avoid taking sleeping pills, as it can cause immobility
perform simple leg exercises, such as regularly flexing your ankles
take occasional short walks when possible
take advantage of refuelling stopovers, where it may be possible to get out and walk about
wear elastic compression stockings

Travel insurance

When travelling abroad, it is very important to make sure that you are prepared should you or a member of your family fall ill.

Make sure you have full travel insurance to cover the costs of any healthcare you may need to receive. This is particularly important if you have a pre-existing medical condition, such as cancer or heart disease, that may increase your risk of developing DVT.

DVT can be a very serious condition, and it is important that you receive medical assistance as soon as possible. Prompt treatment of DVT will help minimise the risk of complications.

Read more information about travel health.