Dallas News WFAA
Talking About DVT
Transcript by Angie

Reporter: Well a huge number of people are effected by a condition that most of us know very little about. It's called Deep Vain Thrombosis or DVT. SImply put, it's the formation of a blood clot in the deep vains of the calf, thigh, or pelvic region. But one of the last people you would expect to have the condition is a world class athlete. Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Lipinski joins us live now and is living proof that it can effect anyone. And also with her is Dr. Victor Tapson of Duke University Medical Center. Thank you both for joining us today.

Tara: Hi.

Dr. Tapson: Thank you Chris.

Reporter: Tara, let's start with you first. Your initial problem was not DVT so how did Thrombosis become a threat to you?

Tara: Well, I had hip surgery two years ago and that put me at risk. So after surgery my doctor was aware of it and put me on blood thinners and prevented it and everything was ok. But my parents and I, after the surgery didn't even know about DVT or a blood clot. So that's kind of what I'm doing now. I'm speaking out to the public about DVT so they become aware and can consult their doctor and learn more about it.

Reporter: And Dr. Tapson was DVT every a threat to Tara's life?

Dr. Tapson: Well sure it was. Anyone undergoing sugrery, especially major surgery like hip surgery, Chris, is at risk. Hip surgery, knee surgery, general sergery. And there's other factors that can kind of super impose on that. So it's a very common heath problem and often a deadly one.

Reporter: What causes those blood clots? What causes DVT I guess, is what I should be asking.

Dr. Tapson: Sure. The things that cause DVT are anything that allows blood to kind of stagmate. Immobility is a big one. So you may be a hospitalized patient, or maybe someone on a very very long plane flight and thats very inactive. The clot forms and may break off and go to the lungs and as many as 200,000 patients in the United States every year die from pulminary ambilism, or a blood clot going to the lungs.

Reporter: Well i'll tell you. Sitting on the anchor desk as long as I do, sometimes I feel like my legs are going numb and I worry about it. But, are the other symptems that a person should maybe watch or look for if you're in that position?

Dr. Tapson: Sure Chris. Things like leg pain or swelling or if the blood clot does go to the lungs patients often have shortness of breath or chest pains. Those symptoms, in adition to the risk factors help us raise awareness that this disease can be present.

Reporter: Alright. I want to get back to Tara in a minute but, first tell us what the standard treatment is for this?

Dr Tapson: The standard treatment Chris is blood thinners given now a days by a shot once or twice a day. Medications called low melecular weight hephrons are taking place of older medications. So patients get these for treatment for a week or so then transition to a pill that they take for many months. In Tara's case, she took proventive medication by a shot for a period of about two weeks.

Reporter: And Tara, how are you feeling now? You mentioned the surgery. Are you back skating and feeling good?

Tara: Yes. I'm still skating, touring. I got back pretty quick which is nice and I'll never be 100% with my hip but I'm lucky to have a prolonged professional career now.

Reporter: Well good for you. We gotta say that we like you on the commericals as well.

Tara: Aww, thank you.

Reporter: The office products commercials.

Tara: Yea, that was fun (giggles)

Reporter: (laughs) It was fun. All right, well we wish you continued good luck in your recovery and thanks so much for raising some awareness about DVT. It can happen to anyone obviously.

Tara: Yes it can and if you want to learn more about it you can go to spotlighthealth.com.

Reporter: Alright. Thanks Tara, and thank you Dr. Tapson. It's good to have you with us.

Dr. Tapson: Thanks Chris.

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