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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. 21 No. 3 1998
Treatment of deep leg vein thrombosis
Patients who cannot move their legs are at risk of clots forming in the leg veins. This is a problem after surgery, particularly if the knee or hip joint is being replaced. Clots are more likely to occur in elderly patients and in those with cancer. Clots can also occur spontaneously. If a piece of the clot breaks free, it can get stuck in the lungs. This is a serious problem called a pulmonary embolism.
To prevent clots and pulmonary embolism, patients can be given medicines to thin the blood. Usually, injections of heparin are given for a few days. The patient is also given warfarin to take by mouth. The warfarin treatment continues for several months. Patients taking warfarin should have regular blood tests to see how thin their blood is. Any bleeding which does not stop in a few minutes should be reported to the doctor.
