Avoid the DVT hospital danger - Miriam Stoppard - Mirror Online
Avoid the DVT hospital danger
When most people think about DVT (deep vein thrombosis) they associate it with with "economy class syndrome" - where aeroplane passengers can develop blood clots in the lower legs after sitting still for hours at a time.
But, the majority of the UK's 25,000 DVT fatalities every year occur in hospital after operations.
So, I was concerned by the Parliamentary Thrombosis Group's report last week, which claimed that two in three hospitals fail to protect their patients from DVT.
Nhs guidelines say a risk assessment should be carried out on 90% of patients before surgery, so those at high risk can be provided with compression stockings or preventive education. But only a third do this, says the report.
So is there anything you can do to reduce your risk? Clots are more likely after operations because you're far less mobile and also because your body's clotting mechanism is on high alert after the "injury".
The biggest danger is that the clot breaks off from the legs and travels to your lungs, blocking one of the main blood vessels. This is known as a pulmonary embolism and can be fatal.
You may be at increased risk if you're having a long operation or are immobile for at least three days. Over-40s, smokers, overweight patients and those who have had DVT, a stroke or heart disease are at increased risk. Don't wait for an assessment - ask the doctor in advance about what you can do to reduce your risk.
You should always stop smoking several weeks before an operation and you may be advised to stop taking the contraceptive pill or HRT.
Ask if you'll need compression stockings and what exercises you should do before and after.
Know what symptoms to look out for. Any swelling in the lower leg or pain or discomfort in a calf muscle, especially if it gets worse when you straighten your leg and pull your toes up, should be reported to staff without hesitation.
Avoid the DVT hospital danger - Miriam Stoppard - Mirror Online
Avoid the DVT hospital danger
When most people think about DVT (deep vein thrombosis) they associate it with with "economy class syndrome" - where aeroplane passengers can develop blood clots in the lower legs after sitting still for hours at a time.
But, the majority of the UK's 25,000 DVT fatalities every year occur in hospital after operations.
So, I was concerned by the Parliamentary Thrombosis Group's report last week, which claimed that two in three hospitals fail to protect their patients from DVT.
Nhs guidelines say a risk assessment should be carried out on 90% of patients before surgery, so those at high risk can be provided with compression stockings or preventive education. But only a third do this, says the report.
So is there anything you can do to reduce your risk? Clots are more likely after operations because you're far less mobile and also because your body's clotting mechanism is on high al
ert after the "injury".
The biggest danger is that the clot breaks off from the legs and travels to your lungs, blocking one of the main blood vessels. This is known as a pulmonary embolism and can be fatal.
You may be at increased risk if you're having a long operation or are immobile for at least three days. Over-40s, smokers, overweight patients and those who have had DVT, a stroke or heart disease are at increased risk. Don't wait for an assessment - ask the doctor in advance about what you can do to reduce your risk.
You should always stop smoking several weeks before an operation and you may be advised to stop taking the contraceptive pill or HRT.
Ask if you'll need compression stockings and what exercises you should do before and after.
Know what symptoms to look out for. Any swelling in the lower leg or pain or discomfort in a calf muscle, especially if it gets worse when you straighten your leg and pull your toes up, should be reported to staff without hesitation.