What are hospital associated blood clots?
A hospital-acquired blood clot occurs in patients when they are in hospital and up to ninety days
after a hospital admission. There are two kinds:
1. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): a DVT is a blood clot (also known as a thrombosis) that
forms in a deep vein, most commonly in your leg or pelvis. It may cause no symptoms at
all or cause swelling, redness and pain.
2. Pulmonary embolism (PE): If a clot becomes dislodged and passes through your blood
vessels it can reach your lungs, this is called a PE. Symptoms include coughing (with
blood stained phlegm), chest pain and breathlessness. Health professionals use the term
venous thromboembolism (VTE), to cover DVT and PE.
