Treatments and Testing

Comprehensive, Individualized Treatment Plans

Your child’s first appointment will include a complete physical exam and lab tests. The doctor will develop a personalized treatment plan for your child and discuss it with you. This plan will be holistic, addressing the clotting problem and providing support for other concerns, such as your child’s emotional needs and ability to manage the condition at school.

The comprehensive treatment plan may include:

• Prescribing anticoagulation (anti-clotting) medication
• Coordinating outpatient laboratory testing for anticoagulation therapy monitoring
• Prescribing compression stockings or another type of compression therapy to reduce the side effects from prior blood clots in the legs or arms
• Physical therapy to help your child regain function if a blood clot has affected their mobility
• Support from our skilled social workers, who can provide:
  • Emotional, psychosocial and spiritual support
  • Assistance with school concerns
  • Community outreach and education
  • Information about additional resources

Clot-Busting Therapies for Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis

Children and young adults with deep vein thrombosis may need vascular intervention to treat a clot. Our vascular intervention team includes pediatric interventional radiologists who can insert catheters (thin, plastic tubes) into the vessels and deliver clot-busting therapies. These minimally invasive therapies include:

• Site-directed thrombolysis. This therapy uses drugs to break up a clot or a mechanical device to break up and suction out the clot.
• Temporary inferior vena cava filters, which the interventional radiologist inserts into the large vein that runs from the legs and abdomen to the heart and lungs. These filters can prevent clots from traveling from the legs to the heart and lungs during site-directed thrombolysis.

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

At the Thrombosis Program at Cincinnati Children’s, our team uses advanced diagnostic testing, including:

• Imaging studies. These include ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance and conventional angiography.
• Lab tests through the Cincinnati Children’s Hemostasis and Thrombosis Lab. Having an on-site lab allows us to receive high-quality test results quickly, rather than having to rely on an outside testing facility.

Genetic Counseling and Testing

If one of your family members has a blood clotting disorder, it’s natural to be concerned that your child might, too. Our team offers genetics counseling and testing recommendations for people with a family history of blood clots. The Hemostasis and Thrombosis Lab at Cincinnati Children’s provides accurate test results promptly. If the results suggest your child has a risk of developing a clotting disorder, our team will talk to you about the next steps.