Dumb question but why do you apply heat with DVT

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If someone has a DVT why do you apply heat? I know you apply SCD / TED Hose but I'm confused on the concept of applying heat in addition to this.

If you have a DVT then I assume your blood isn't returning to the heart from that area sufficiently. If you're applying heat your causing vasodilation in that area which in turn would cause more swelling wouldn't it? Also, couldn't this cause more pressure to build up in said vein & possibly cause that clot to break off?

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Applying heat is a self-care technique and is used to help with the pain. With any DVT it's important to keep the blood circulating past the clot. Major reason why some DVT patients experience hypertension. The doctor's won't treat the hypertension for similar reasons as well until the DVT is resolved.

Speaking from experience ONLY.

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Okay, thank you KarlaNolan!

But here's my concern...But circulating blood past the clot normally isn't the issue though, or is it? Because I'm under the impression arteries & arterioles carry blood to the tissues, & those aren't blocked, it's the vein which job is to return blood to the heart. I understand we still want to get oxygenated blood to the tissues but that blood eventually has to return too, & couldn't it increase the chance of that clot breaking off because of pressure?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

We apply SCD's and TED hoses to prevent DVT's, if one has already formed those items are not used on the affected extremity. As far as heat and DVT, never used it..

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

The application, heat usually warm moist heat, is a comfort measure and decreases swelling

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The heat decreases swelling by dilating the rest of the vasculature, thus increasing venous return in all the other veins. As to dislodging the clot by increasing blood flow, not too likely, and stasis around a clot could cause it to get bigger and more dangerous if it does break free (assuming anticoagulation isn't perfect).

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Okay, thank you guys. That makes a lot more sense. If anyone is still reading this our class is having trouble between fistula & evisceriation too, if anyone is still reading would you mind explaining that too?

My understanding fistula is basically the passageway & can be surgically created while evisceration is protrusion of the organ due to dehiscence.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of injury or surgery. It can also result from infection or inflammation.

Dehisence simply means that a wound or incision has opened up to some extent.

Evisceration frequently refers to the abdomen. It means that something has opened the cavity and some of the contents are outside the body.

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Esme12 said:
A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of injury or surgery. It can also result from infection or inflammation.

Dehisence simply means that a wound or incision has opened up to some extent.

Evisceration frequently refers to the abdomen. It means that something has opened the cavity and some of the contents are outside the body.

= viscera

Any wound can dehisce, that is, open up after it has closed superficially. You see this sometimes when the skin layer has closed normally ( as it will in 18-24 hours in anyone with decent nutrition and healing), but an infection in the substrate prevents the lower levels from knitting together. The products of the infection-fighting process, the lytic enzymes from WBCs, then dissolve the skin and bingo! Dehiscence.

Only abdominal wounds can eviscerate after they dehisce (or when they are first created, as in trauma). Fun fact: One old English punishment was evisceration while alive. Seen Braveheart? Largely fictional, but they got that right. ?

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If someone has a DVT why do you apply heat? I know you apply SCD / TED Hose but I'm confused on the concept of applying heat in addition to this.

If you have a DVT then I assume your blood isn't returning to the heart from that area sufficiently. If you're applying heat your causing vasodilation in that area which in turn would cause more swelling wouldn't it? Also, couldn't this cause more pressure to build up in said vein & possibly cause that clot to break off?

Isn't SCD contraindicated in confirmed DVT?

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