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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
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Australian Prescriber Vol. 32 No. 4 2009
Deep vein thrombosis
Patients who are in hospital do not move around as much as normal. This increases the risk that a blood clot may form in the deep veins of their legs. This is called deep vein thrombosis. Pieces of the clot can break off into the blood stream and become trapped in the blood vessels of the lungs. These are called thromboemboli and may cause death.
Patients who have had major surgery are at a high risk of deep vein thrombosis. To try and prevent thrombosis, patients are encouraged to get out of bed as soon as possible after surgery. They may also be given special stockings to wear.
In many hospitals patients are given injections of drugs called heparins to thin the blood and help stop clots forming. The heparin injections continue for as long as there is a risk of thrombosis. This may be for up to a month after major surgery.
