Orthopedics
Thrombosis
Prevention and treatment
Thrombosis occurs when blood clots in a vein and blocks it. Normally, blood clotting is a vital protective mechanism in our body. To prevent bleeding in the event of an injury, the blood coagulates and seals the wound.However, our blood doesn't only clot due to external injuries. Blood clots can also form when the blood flow slows, for example, due to prolonged lying down or a lack of movement in the arms and legs. Other causes of blood clotting can include changes in the inner lining of blood vessels and changes in the composition of the blood. Surgery, which is essentially a planned injury, also triggers blood clotting. This can lead to thrombosis.
A complication of thrombosis is pulmonary embolism. In this case, a blood clot, or part of it, breaks off from the vessel and travels with the bloodstream to the lungs. There, it can then block a vessel. This is called a pulmonary embolism.
In addition to the risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis itself is a long-lasting and unpleasant condition. If left untreated, it can lead to the so-called post-thrombotic syndrome due to impaired blood flow. Due to the blockage of the vessels, blood can no longer be adequately transported away, and it accumulates. The consequences are fluid retention in the tissue (edema), varicose veins, and, for example, leg ulcers.
Recognizing a thrombosis
Depending on the location, type, and size of the thrombosis, the symptoms can vary greatly; many thromboses go unnoticed by those affected. Typical symptoms include:
- Swelling and feeling of warmth in the affected part of the body
- reddened and tense skin, possibly blue discoloration
- Tension and pain in the foot, calf and back of the knee
- Venous thrombosis predominantly affects the legs and pelvis. The arms and shoulder girdle are rarely affected.
Preventing thrombosis
Every surgical procedure increases the risk of blood clots. To protect patients from thrombosis and its potentially life-threatening consequences, they are given anticoagulant medication as a precaution during and after surgery. You should continue this thrombosis prophylaxis until the increased risk of thrombosis no longer exists. For minor surgeries, thrombosis prophylaxis for a few days is often sufficient. However, if you are about to undergo a major operation, such as a knee or hip replacement, it is recommended that you continue prophylaxis for several weeks.
Thrombosis prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparins “abdominal injections”
To protect patients from thrombosis and its consequences during and after surgery, special medications are used. These are intended to prevent unwanted blood clotting. Due to their ease of use and high level of safety, the so-called "low-molecular-weight heparins" have proven particularly effective. They are now available in easy-to-use pre-filled syringes, known as abdominal syringes. To achieve optimal thrombosis protection, the low-molecular-weight heparin must be injected before the surgical procedure. After the operation, the anticoagulant medications should be administered for as long as the increased risk of thrombosis persists.
Heparins contain long, sugar-like chains and must therefore be injected, as they would otherwise be destroyed in the stomach and intestines. Heparins are injected directly under the skin. This is generally painless and easy for any patient to learn. Low-molecular-weight heparins have the advantage that one injection per day is sufficient for thrombosis prophylaxis, eliminating the need for time-consuming blood clotting tests.