What it means
Blood that moves too slowly through the veins and pools, usually in the legs. It happens with bed rest, long sitting, paralysis, damaged vein valves, heart failure and pregnancy. It is one of the three parts of Virchow's triadTRY-adA group of three things, such as three signs that occur together.Full entry that lead to clots such as deep vein thrombosisDEEP VAYN throm-BOH-sisA blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.thromb/o clot-osis conditionFull entry . Over a long time it can cause swelling, brown skin color around the ankles and slow-healing venous ulcers.
For the nurse
Help clients walk early and often, teach ankle pumps and leg exercises, and use compression stockings or sequential compression devices as ordered.
Related terms
deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.
sequential compression device
Inflatable leg sleeves that fill with air and squeeze the legs in turns to keep blood moving in the veins.
triad
A group of three things, such as three signs that occur together.
stasis
A slowing or stopping of the normal flow of a body fluid.