VTE Prevention

Question 1

What is VTE?

Answer 1

Venous thrombo-embolism

Question 2

Risk factors for VTE

Answer 2

Immobility
Surgery 
Obesity 
Cancer 
Trauma

Question 3

What is Vircow’s triad?

Answer 3

Blood flow - stasis of blood
Blood contents - hypercoaguability
Vessel walls - injury

Question 4

What are the general measures for VTE prevention?

Answer 4

Limit starvation
Adequate hydration
Care during postitioning
Early mobilisation

Question 5

What are the intra-operative methods of VTE prevention?

Answer 5

TED stockings

Flowtron boots

Question 6

What are TED stockings?

Answer 6

Compression stockings

- prevent pooling of blood in calves

Question 7

What are some downsides to TED stockings?

Answer 7

Poor fit - can act as a tourniquet

Question 8

Contra-indications for TED stockings?

Answer 8

Peripheral vascular disease
Open wound
Rash

Question 9

What are flowtron boots?

Answer 9

Intermittent pneumatic compression device

Question 10

What is intermittent pneumatic compression?

Answer 10

Device inflates and deflates in cycles

Compresses calf, to stimulate blood flow

Question 11

Downside to flowtron boots

Answer 11

Requires patient to be immobile

Question 12

What is the autar scale?

Answer 12

Tool for indentifying risk of DVT in orthopaedic patients

Categories

• Age
• BMI
• Mobility
• Hormonal treatments
• Trauma risk
• Surgical intervention
• High risk diseases

= 6 no risk
7-10 = low risk
11-14 = moderate risk
>15 = high risk