Which symptom would prompt monitoring for deep vein thrombosis in an immobilized patient?

• A. Pain and swelling in the calf
• B. Normal leg warmth
• C. No tenderness
• D. Clear distal pulses

Answer: (A)

Immobility slows blood flow in the leg veins, increasing the risk of a deep vein thrombosis. When a clot forms in a deep leg vein, unilateral pain and swelling of the calf are the most telling signs because they reflect impaired venous return on the affected side and local tenderness where the clot sits. This combination strongly prompts monitoring and diagnostic testing, such as a leg ultrasound, to confirm or exclude a DVT. While warmth, lack of tenderness, or normal distal pulses can occur with or without a DVT, they are less reliable indicators on their own and don’t carry the same level of concern as calf pain with swelling.