If you have reached this website, it is likely that you or somebody you care for has been examined for, or diagnosed with, a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a pulmonary embolism (PE).
These conditions are caused when a blood clot (sometimes known as a thrombus) blocks a key blood vessel.1 This is why you may hear DVT or PE referred to as venous thromboembolism (a blood clot in a vein). Although both DVT and PE have the potential to be serious conditions, they can be treated – the key is to act quickly if you spot the signs and symptoms.
What is a DVT?
A DVT is a blood clot that may form in one of the deep veins of the body – usually in the calf or thigh of one leg.1-4
What is a PE?5
A PE is usually a complication of a DVT. This condition may occur when part of a blood clot causing a DVT in the leg – or, rarely, in another part of the body – breaks away and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. A PE is a serious condition that can potentially be life-threatening – so it needs to be treated as soon as possible.
