How Long Does Blood Clots In Right Leg Take To Clear Up?

Posted on Wed, 18 May 2016

Question: I had blood clots dvt in rt leg. Last ultra sound indicated 40% uclussion in veins. Doctor took me off zarelto after that ulrasound. Will the clotting continue to reduce over time? How long before down to like 10% ocllusion?

Answered by Dr. Rishi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
They will all get cleared ultimately. Clearance rates differ in all patient

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thank you for the query.
I would like to ask few more questions.
Since when are you suffering from the DVT? Is it the first episode or have you had it earlier? What is the extent of the DVT, meaning what all veins are involved?
Answer to these questions would help me to answer your question depending on which segment of veins are involved.
DVT usually clears up in one to three months of its onset provided adequate and therapeutic anti-coagulation treatment has been given(Zarelto in your case).
At our Vascular Center we usually give oral anti-coagulation for six months and then repeat a Doppler study to know the effect and the clearance level. The clots in your veins will progressively decrease and will ultimately get cleared.
Do not worry about that but you should have a full investigation as to why the clots happened in the first place.

Take care and I would be happy to help you with any other queries you might be having on this issue.
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak

Follow up: Dr. Rishi (8 hours later)

I had meniscus arthroscopy surgery 14 months ago. Developed DVT in mid thigh femoral / popliteal vein down to ankle. First Doppler indicate 90% occlusion in those veins plus additional veins distal to right knee. 3rd and 4th Doppler both read me at 40-50% occluded. Last Doppler was 2 months ago and that's when Vascular surgeon took me off of Xarelto. So on Xarelto for about 12 months. Now last 2 months no blood thinners. Just want to know how long it will take for all of the clotting to go away (on average). I don't want to live with this for life. I hear concerns about getting my leg massaged could release clots, but then others say no. What is the attrition rate per month or per year? How long will it take for all the clotting to go away?

Answered by Dr. Rishi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Do not worry about the residual clots, they wont harm you. You can massage.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, Welcome back to HCM,
Thank you for the details about your case and history.

Most of the clots disappear within two months of DVT happening, but different patients behave differently. The residual clots can take years to disappear, I have seen patients coming to us even after 5 to 7 years of DVT and having some minimal clots in the affected veins.

The good thing is that the clots in your limb have not reached the Iliac veins therefore chances of developing problems of chronic venous insufficiency would be less. Also, since it has been 14 months there is hardly any chance that the clots could get dislodged as they would have hardened and stuck to the vein wall from where they will ultimately dissolve.

I do not think you should worry at all.

We at our Vascular Surgery Center do prescribe Tab Aspirin or Ecosprin 75mg in evening for 3 to 5 years along with Tab Vitamin B Complex and it helps to decrease the incidence of a DVT happening again. You could consult your Doctor and start this.

Also, it is routine at our Center to do a malignancy screening for patients over 50 years of age who contract unprovoked DVT or DVT due to minor surgeries.

You could discuss the same with your Doctor. We usually do some tests like Chest X-Ray, USG Abdomen, Serum PSA, CEA, CA19.9 and AFP, etc.

Take care and do let me know if there are any more concerns.
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee