Preventing hospital Acquired Blood Clots
This leaflet gives a quick insight to what a blood clot is, who is at risk of getting a blood clot, symptoms of a blood clot and how one can be prevented.
What is a Blood Clot?
A blood clot occurs when we cut ourselves to stop up from bleeding. This clotting process is a complex process that can sometimes happen in the wrong place, usually in the deep veins of the leg. You may have heard of this complication ‘Deep Vein Thrombosis’ or DVT for short.
Deep Vein Thrombosis blocks the normal flow through the veins affected and can cause pain, redness, tenderness and swelling.
Sometimes a piece of this clot can break off (imagine like a scab) and travel around the body traveling to the lungs and can block the blood flow into the lung vessels. They call this complication a ‘Pulmonary Embolism’ or PE for short. Pulmonary Embolism’s can cause chest pain, coughing, blood stained sputum and problems with breathing that can be very severe.
Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism are known under the collective term of ‘Venous Thromboembolism’ or VTE. The risk of developing Venous Thromboembolism is sometimes increased during a stay in hospital for various reasons.
Who is at risk of Venous Thromboembolism?
Every patient that is admitted to hospital is at some risk and this sick increases with reduced mobility, especially if you are having an operation or so ill that you are confined to bed.
The hospital will assess your risk of Venous Thromboembolism either at your pre-op appointment or when you are admitted. The leaflet given to me states that your risk of developing Deep Vein Thrombosis is increased by the following factors:-
Not all cases of Venous Thromboembolism can be prevented but the risk can be reduced by about two thirds with the appropriate precautions and treatment:-
Your risk of developing Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism may continue after you have been discharged from hospital, particularly in the first few weeks of until you are back to your usual level of mobility.
For this reason, depending on your risk factor, you may be given stockings and/or the tablet or injection used in hospital to continue using at home.
The leaflet warns that your risk of developing blood clots can continue for up to 3 months after you have been discharged from hospital.
What are the symptoms of Venous Thromboembolism?
Deep Vein Thrombosis can sometimes occur without any symptoms. There are typical symptoms such as:-
This leaflet gives a quick insight to what a blood clot is, who is at risk of getting a blood clot, symptoms of a blood clot and how one can be prevented.
What is a Blood Clot?
A blood clot occurs when we cut ourselves to stop up from bleeding. This clotting process is a complex process that can sometimes happen in the wrong place, usually in the deep veins of the leg. You may have heard of this complication ‘Deep Vein Thrombosis’ or DVT for short.
Deep Vein Thrombosis blocks the normal flow through the veins affected and can cause pain, redness, tenderness and swelling.
Sometimes a piece of this clot can break off (imagine like a scab) and travel around the body traveling to the lungs and can block the blood flow into the lung vessels. They call this complication a ‘Pulmonary Embolism’ or PE for short. Pulmonary Embolism’s can cause chest pain, coughing, blood stained sputum and problems with breathing that can be very severe.
Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism are known under the collective term of ‘Venous Thromboembolism’ or VTE. The risk of developing Venous Thromboembolism is sometimes increased during a stay in hospital for various reasons.
Who is at risk of Venous Thromboembolism?
Every patient that is admitted to hospital is at some risk and this sick increases with reduced mobility, especially if you are having an operation or so ill that you are confined to bed.
The hospital will assess your risk of Venous Thromboembolism either at your pre-op appointment or when you are admitted. The leaflet given to me states that your risk of developing Deep Vein Thrombosis is increased by the following factors:-
- If you are dehydrated,
- If you are over 60,
- If you are overweight (have a higher body mass index – BMI),
- If you smoke,
- If you have a family or personal history of blood clots in the legs or lungs,
- If you have cancer,
- If you take certain types of medication such as the contraceptive pill, HRT, Tamoxfen,
- If you are undergoing major surgery or have a serious medical condition such as a stroke or heart disease.
- If you are pregnant,
- If you have Veracious Veins.
Not all cases of Venous Thromboembolism can be prevented but the risk can be reduced by about two thirds with the appropriate precautions and treatment:-
- You are encouraged to mobilise as early as possible and to perform regular leg exercises when confined to a bed or chair.
- Try to drink plenty of fluids as soon as you are able to do so.
- You may be measured and fitted for elastic stockings (TED stockings) to wear on both legs. These stockings increase the blood flow in the legs which reduces the risk of clots.
- If TEDS are not considered appropriate for you, you may be offered a pneumatic foot or calf pump which inflates and deflates to increase the blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots.
- If you are assessed as being at higher risk you could be given a small injection on a daily basis. This injection works by thinning the blood and reducing the risk of a clot forming. If you are having a hip of knee replacement surgery you may be prescribed a tablet instead of an injection.
Your risk of developing Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism may continue after you have been discharged from hospital, particularly in the first few weeks of until you are back to your usual level of mobility.
For this reason, depending on your risk factor, you may be given stockings and/or the tablet or injection used in hospital to continue using at home.
The leaflet warns that your risk of developing blood clots can continue for up to 3 months after you have been discharged from hospital.
What are the symptoms of Venous Thromboembolism?
Deep Vein Thrombosis can sometimes occur without any symptoms. There are typical symptoms such as:-
- Swelling of the leg,
- Pain,
- Calf tenderness,
- Occasional heat and redness.