Prevention of Deep Venous Thrombosis (Blood Clots) After Knee Replacement
Orthopedic Surgeons, and in particular Knee Surgeons, are vigilant with regard to preventing serious complications after total knee replacement surgery. Selecting a treatment regimen is a balance between effectiveness and safety, recognizing too much bleeding has a harmful effect on outcome.
It is agreed that some regimen be used for 14 days. Drug choices include Lovenox (and other low molecular weight heparins),
Coumadin, Aspirin. Mechanical prophylaxis alone is an appropriate option.
The ideal prophylactic regimen has not been identified. Doctors and patients have to look at each case individually with the goal of optimizing the protection for their patient. Patients are stratified based on their risk for clotting and their risk for bleeding.
Home DVT Prevention – Preventing Serious Complications After Knee Replacement Surgery
Advanced Knee Care, PC and Stefan D. Tarlow, M.D. strive to attain the best outcomes for our patients after major knee surgery such as Total Knee Replacement and Makoplasty (robotic partial knee replacement). VenaPro home sequential compression device lowers the DVT risk during our patient’s first 2 weeks at home. Additionally, patients are treated with Aspirin at home for 14 days. These devices wrap around both lower legs and use rapid air inflation to move the blood out of the lower leg, minimizing blood clots. The VenaPro device is used at rest (in bed or sitting on chair or couch) for 2 weeks. No device is needed when walking normally. Utilizing both medication and mechanical compression, we now have a two pronged attack against DVT formation.
Today, we can lower DVT rates and save lives. We call this high quality patient care in action.
Federal Safety Guidelines since 2008 have mandated that patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty receive at least one of a list of prophylactic regimens for at least 10 days following surgery.
Options for Elective total knee or total hip replacement
- Aspirin
- Low molecular weight heparin (Lovenox-injection)
- Factor Xa inhibitor – (Xarelto-pill form)
- Vitamin K antagonist (Warfarin-pill form)
- Intermittent pneumatic compression devices (Venoflow Elite-Home device)
- Low-dose unfractionated heparin (injection heparin)
Knee Replacement: DVT Prevention Without Risky Medications
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| VenaFlow Elite with Calf Cuff, Tubing and Compression Pump – photo from DJO website |
The CPT code for the rental of this unit is E0676,RR.
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| Advanced Knee Care – Scottsdale, AZ |
Dr. Tarlow is the only Orthopedic Surgeon to limit his practice to encompass Adult Reconstruction and Sports Medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of knees. Dr. Tarlow’s practice focuses on excelling in the art of Knee Diagnosis and Surgery. He performs the full spectrum of Knee Surgery from Knee Arthroscopy, ACL Reconstruction, Patellar Stabilization and Cartilage Restoration to Makoplasty Partial Knee Replacement to Total Knee Replacement to Revision Total Knee Replacement. His focus is exceptional customer service and he endeavors to exceed the diverse expectations of his patients.
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