Deep venous thrombosis can lead to?

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins, typically in the legs. One of the most significant complications of DVT is the risk of a pulmonary embolism (PE). This happens when a part of the clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it can block the pulmonary arteries. PE can lead to serious complications, including difficulty breathing, reduced oxygen levels in the blood, and can even be life-threatening.

Understanding the relationship between DVT and PE emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of DVT to prevent this potentially fatal outcome. Other options such as lung infections, chronic bronchitis, and heart disease are not direct or immediate consequences of DVT. While cardiovascular health can be indirectly influenced by various risk factors associated with DVT, they do not connect to DVT as directly as a pulmonary embolism does.