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Download POST-OPERATIVE BLOOD THINNERS
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POST-OPERATIVE BLOOD THINNERS Please be aware that injection blood thinners may be used in the hospital after your surgery and that your physician may send you home on this medication for 2 weeks following your procedure. Why… As a surgical patient you are at higher risk of developing blood clots following surgery. Abdominal surgery causes your blood to become thicker, and after the procedure you will not be moving/walking as often as much as before the procedure. These two factors create an ideal situation for a blood clot to form. Blood clots can be a serious complication after surgery. Most blood clots form in the back of your legs, but sometimes they break off and travel to your heart or lungs, which can be fatal. When… Injection blood thinners will be started the day after your surgery as long as your blood levels remain stable. What… Injections are given to provide immediate protection from blood clots. Options for blood thinners: - Heparin given 2 times per day - Lovenox (enoxparin) given once daily - Fragmin (dalteparin) given once daily Medications given by mouth such as Warfarin (Coumadin) take too long to start working and therefore do not provide adequate protection against developing a blood clot. Instructions: 1. Bring the phone number and/or address of your pharmacy with you to the hospital. If your pharmacy does not carry the blood thinner, we will use the hospital pharmacy. 2. Bring your prescription insurance card with you to the hospital. 3. After your surgery your physician will determine whether you need to continue on the blood thinner at home. If so, we will call the prescription in to your pharmacy before you leave and we will check the co-pay to ensure the medication is available and affordable for you at discharge. 4. Your nurse will teach you how to give yourself the injections before you leave the hospital (or teach a family member how to give you the injections if you prefer). 5. Please pick up this prescription from the pharmacy the same day you leave the hospital.
