A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Category: Anatomy

  • IVC Filters, May-Thurner Syndrome, Pelvic Vein Stents

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… An article for patients discussing (a) IVC filters, (b) narrowing of the main left pelvic vein (May-Thurner syndrome) and (c) pelvic venous stents has just been published (http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/133/6/e383.full.pdf).  Color images of anatomy, filters and stents are included as visual aids.  The article may be helpful as handout material for patients in…

  • DVT in Young Adults – IVC Abnormalities

    Stephan Moll, MD writes….. When a young person is diagnosed with extensive pelvic DVT or inferior vena cava thrombosis, there may be an underlying and predisposing congenital abnormality of the IVC, such as a congenital absence (agenesis, aplasia) or narrowing (hypoplasia) of the IVC

  • PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale)

    A discussion of PFO and paradoxical embolism, written for patients, is available on the Clot Connect Patient blog- connect here.  The health care professional can refer his/her patient to the information on PFO in that blog . The blog also contains images suitable for patients to understand the etiology of  paradoxical embolism:

  • PFO = Patent Foramen Ovale

    Anatomy Some people have a “hole in the heart”, called a “patent foramen ovale” (PFO). This is a connection between the right and the left chamber (atrium) of the heart. We are all born with it – the unborn needs this connection for proper blood circulation. In most people the hole closes in the first…

  • Arm and Leg Veins – Anatomy and Terminology

    Confusion as to which veins of arms and legs are superficial and which are deep can lead to an incorrect diagnosis. As treatment of clots in superficial veins (= superficial thrombophlebitis) is different to that of clots in deep veins (DVT = deep vein thrombosis), the distinction between superficial and deep veins is important.

  • Arm and Leg Veins – Anatomy + Terminology

    Confusion as to which veins of arms and legs are superficial and which are deep can lead to misclassification superficial thrombophlebitis and DVT and, thus, to incorrect treatment decisions. A. Arm Veins Graph of  Arm vein terminology Basilic and cephalic veins are superficial veins; Brachial veins

  • May-Thurner Syndrome

    Summary A congenital stenosis of the left main pelvic vein (= left common iliac vein) by pressure from the overlying right common iliac artery (image 1) is referred to as May Thurner syndrome. While this anatomic variant is a risk factor for DVT, in many people is causes no symptoms and is irrelevant.

  • May-Thurner Syndrome

    Summary Some people have a narrowing of their big left pelvic vein (= left common iliac vein) that can put them at risk for a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis = DVT) in that area and in the left leg. The narrowing is due to pressure onto the vein by the overlying big pelvic artery…