Your doctor may hospitalize you if there are risk factors for propagation such as previous DVTs, being bedridden, or having a hypercoagulable disorder. DVT occurring in deep knee or thigh veins, known as proximal DVT, require hospitalization and anticoagulation because of increased risk of pulmonary embolus. Anticoagulants stop the formation of new clots but do not dissolve already formed clots. Naturally occurring thrombolytic proteins are responsible for slowly dissolving blood clots. Heparin Is an anticoagulant that is given through an IV for the first 5 to 7 days.
Heparin works immediately and stops working quickly after being stopped.
Unfortunately, heparin cannot be taken by mouth, requires very frequent monitoring, and must be given in a hospitalized setting. Heparin must be continued until a second anticoagulant, coumadin, is working properly. It is started on the first or second day that heparin is started. Coumadin takes about one week to adequately inhibit clotting factors. Heparin must be taken until coumadin is fully effective.