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SAFETY
knee-length options. According to the literature, knee-length options
work just as effectively as those that stretch to the patient's thigh.
Because knee-high stockings are more comfortable for patients, they're
likely the preferred option.
Anticoagulants such as aspirin, warfarin and low-molecular-weight
heparin are effective prevention options for patients who present with
known DVT risk factors. Administer doses 1 hour before surgery and
continue administration post-op for these individuals.
Ensure the proper fit
Compression sleeves are made for the arms, but their use is
rare. Applying stockings to lower extremities makes more practical
sense in most cases (as long as they don't interfere with the operative
site) because during surgery, blood pressure cuffs and IVs are in place
on and in the arms.
The main issue when using compression stockings is to match the correct size to the patient. Stockings that don't fit properly throughout the
duration of their use might roll down the patient's legs, causing nerve or
muscle injury or prompting the patient to remove the stockings because
the fit is uncomfortable.
Nurses tend to approximate the size of the leg and don't take the
time to properly measure the calf and thigh. That's not sound practice. Take the time to determine the exact circumference and leg
length in order to match the measurement with the recommended
size (in inches) on the stockings' package. Order two different
stockings if the right and left legs measure differently. Also continually measure the patients' legs throughout their stays because
swelling may necessitate a change in stocking size. Finally, ensure
stockings fit properly around the patients' feet; failing to do so could
cause harmful constriction around the toes.
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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
