A 35-year-old member asked:
What happens if you get a blood clot in the leg (vein), can it cause a stroke (artery)?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanicanswered
Neurology 54 years experience
Maybe: If you have thrombophlebitis, a clot could go directly to the lung causing a life threatening pulmonary embolism. But if there is a congenital hole within the heart, such as patent foramen ovale, the embolism can be paroxysmal and go to brain, causing a stroke. Anti-coagulation can be protective in these circumstances.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Michael Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 35 years experience
Rare: In rare cases, there is a communication between the right and left side of the heart allowing a clot from a vein to enter into the arterial circulation called a paradoxical embolism.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 33-year-old member asked:
If you get a blood clot in the leg, can it cause a stroke (artery)?
4 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jason Huffmananswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 25 years experience
Yes: A blood clot in the leg is typically in a vein and if it dislodges it may go to the heart. Most of the time it will pass through the heart and go to the lung. This is known as a pulmonary embolus. In some people it may pass through one side of the heart to the other and then go into the arterial blood system, even to the brain where it may cause a stroke.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
I'm just wondering, if you get a blood clot in the leg (vein), can it cause a stroke (artery)?
2 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in
Dr. Brian Santinanswered
17 years experience
Rarely: While it is possible for a vein blood clot to travel to the artery side of things, it would have to do this through a hole in the heart, termed an septal defect. This tests to be rare but can be diagnosed by an ultrasound est looking at the heart. I hope this helps.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
When you get blood clots in the leg, what are the chances they'll kill you?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Christopher Johnanswered
internal Medicine - Pulmonary Critical Care 47 years experience
Certainly can: Clots in the legs will not kill you.When they move to your lungs however they certainly can.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Laveen, AZ
A 46-year-old female asked:
Can a blood clot in the leg cause meralgia parathetica?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Hartmananswered
Dermatology 41 years experience
Not likely: The calf is where the most common site for blood clots and meralgia is most common on the thigh. The two entities are not usually connected.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 24, 2017
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