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Wilfredo García Reyes Encarnación Street, # 5 (1,796.84 km) 11098 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

How to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis?

By writing this article I do not intend to scare anyone.

DR. MANUEL PERALTA

Keep in mind that cosmetic surgery today is very safe, but it is important to know that it is a medical act and therefore it must be carried out safely. Prevention of venous thrombosis is one of the WHO’s goals in terms of patient safety. It can affect any surgical, cancer or trauma patient. In Plastic Surgery as well. But it can be prevented and this is the responsibility of both the patient and us surgeons. As a representative of your safety as a plastic surgery patient, I have found it important to share it with you.
Because as always I emphasize the safety of you as my patient is a priority.

What is deep vein thrombosis?

Venous thrombosis is the formation of clots (thrombi) within the veins that impede circulation within them and that can detach (emboli), blocking circulation in other organs (embolism), the most common being pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is a very serious complication of surgery, although fortunately it is very rare. When we talk about deep vein thrombosis we refer to the veins in the legs. In aviation you will know it as the economy class syndrome. How are thrombi formed? The presence of varicose veins in the legs is a predisposing factor to the formation of thrombi. The circulation is slowed down. Some coagulation disorders also predispose to thrombus formation. In surgery, general anesthesia causes peripheral vascular dilation, so the blood slows down. The position in the operating room also predisposes to slower circulation. The longer the operation lasts, the more risk of thrombi forming.

“A high percentage of patients develop thrombi in the veins of the calf muscles, but they disappear on their own in many people. The problem is that small group where they do not solve themselves.”

Why is venous thrombosis important in plastic surgery? 

Liposuction, abdominoplasty and postbariatric surgery (lipectomies after massive weight loss) are the procedures where deep vein thrombosis can most occur. It is not more than 1%, very rare, but given the severe consequences it can have, it is very important to prevent it.

How to avoid deep vein thrombosis in Plastic surgery?

Well, taking some preventive measures, which begin at the first medical consultation. We will ask about:

  • History of episodes of thrombosis Problems of thrombosis in childbirth.
  • Presence of varicose veins or interventions of the same Weight.
  • If oral contraceptives or estrogen replacement are taken.
  • If the patient comes from afar and has had to take a long flight, they will be asked to have come at least 24 hours before and walk a few hours the day before surgery.
  • If you are taking contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, you must stop 15 days before the operation. To determine the risk of suffering a thrombosis, a scale called Caprini is used. This scale makes it possible to stratify (classify) patients according to their risk and take the appropriate measures based on it.
  • In most patients, it will be enough to start ambulation (getting up and walking) a few hours after the intervention.
  • In others, we will put special compression stockings during and after surgery.
  • In long interventions, where bedridden is longer, we will put a medication (low molecular weight heparin) to liquefy the blood and avoid the risk of thrombi. This medication must continue to be pricked at home.
  • It is therefore very important to follow the surgeon’s instructions.

 

With a few simple steps it is easy to have a safe surgery and achieve the best results in your cosmetic surgery.

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