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SAFETY
Cheryl Marsh, BS, RN, CNOR
Is It Time to Recall Your Recall Policy?
Deck
Know the risks
DVT commonly occurs when blood flow changes, which could
cause clots to form in deep veins, often in the calf or thigh and less
commonly in the chest or arm. Pulmonary emboli develop when clots
break free from veins and travel to the lungs. The condition can prove
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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 | S E P T E M B E R 2013
Cheryl Marsh, BS, RN, CNOR
T
he
stakes
are
high when it
comes to preventing deep
vein thrombosis and pulmonary
emboli.
Between
300,000 and
600,000 people suffer
DVT and PE
DUAL PURPOSE Using anti-embolism stockings and sequential compression
each year,
devices in combination addresses the key factors for DVT prevention.
with 60,000 to
100,000 ultimately dying from the complications. When it's not fatal,
DVT can cause post-op morbidity, prolonged hospitalization and
increased healthcare costs. An essential part of caring for surgical
patients is to understand your role and responsibilities in preventing
clots from forming.
