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SAFETY
Understand the importance of managing patients after DVT preventative measures are started. For example, constantly assess the skin
under SCDs or compression stockings to ensure pressure injuries have
not occurred. It may sound like basic advice, but make sure SCDs are
activated and remain running throughout their hospital stays.
Stress the importance to patients
Be sure to educate patients on why DVT prevention matters and
why they're attached to compression devices and wearing antiembolism stockings. Recovering patients are sometimes unhooked
from the devices or have their stockings removed in order to ambulate
following surgery, and don't understand the importance of reapplying
the prophylaxis measures when they return to their beds. Others might
forgo SCDs because the power unit is noisy or ignore the stockings
because they're hot or uncomfortable. None of those factors are
acceptable reasons for sidestepping DVT prevention, and that's something patients need to clearly understand.
Also emphasize that DVT risks remain even after patients are discharged to home, especially following outpatient procedures. Ensure
patients watch for swelling or redness in extremities, particularly
along the legs or around the ankles or feet. Shortness of breath and
chest pains are indicators that clots have progressed to pulmonary
emboli, and necessitate an immediate call to the surgeon and visit to
the local emergency room. OSM
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On the Web
Use this helpful tool to determine how high
a patient's DVT risks are and which recommended treatment is appropriate:
tinyurl.com/pw8jyqp
Ms. Marsh
(cheryl.marsh@harrishealth.org) is the nurse
clinical educator at Lyndon B.
Johnson General Hospital in
Houston, Texas.
S E P T E M B E R 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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