Clinical Manifestations of DVT
Clinical Manifestations of DVT ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for developing DVT after a total hip replacement surgery.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care to prevent DVT? (Select all that apply.)
Applying sequential compression devices (SCDs) is not enough to prevent VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. SCDs are mechanical devices that improve blood flow in the legs by inflating and deflating around them. However, they are not as effective as anticoagulant drugs in reducing the incidence of VTE.
Encouraging early ambulation is not enough to prevent VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. Early ambulation is the act of walking soon after surgery to improve circulation and prevent complications. However, it is not associated with a lower risk of VTE compared to bed rest.
Administer low molecular weight heparin. Low molecular weight heparin is an anticoagulant drug that prevents the formation and growth of blood clots in patients at risk for VTE. It is recommended for patients undergoing hip replacement surgery as a pharmacological prophylaxis.
Elevating the affected leg above the level of the heart is not enough to prevent VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. Elevating the leg may help reduce swelling and pain, but it does not prevent clot formation or propagation.
Massaging the affected leg gently is not only ineffective but also harmful for preventing VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. Massaging the leg may dislodge existing clots and cause them to travel to the lungs, resulting in a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
The correct answer is choice C. Administer low molecular weight heparin. Low molecular weight heparin is an anticoagulant drug that prevents the formation and growth of blood clots in patients at risk for VTE. It is recommended for patients undergoing hip replacement surgery as a pharmacological prophylaxis.
Choice A is wrong because applying sequential compression devices (SCDs) is not enough to prevent VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. SCDs are mechanical devices that improve blood flow in the legs by inflating and deflating around them. However, they are not as effective as anticoagulant drugs in reducing the incidence of VTE.
Choice B is wrong because encouraging early ambulation is not enough to prevent VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. Early ambulation is the act of walking soon after surgery to improve circulation and prevent complications. However, it is not associated with a lower risk of VTE compared to bed rest.
It may also be contraindicated in some patients depending on their surgical and medical conditions.
Choice D is wrong because elevating the affected leg above the level of the heart is not enough to prevent VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. Elevating the leg may help reduce swelling and pain, but it does not prevent clot formation or propagation.
Choice E is wrong because massaging the affected leg gently is not only ineffective but also harmful for preventing VTE in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. Massaging the leg may dislodge existing clots and cause them to travel to the lungs, resulting in a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.