However, operative mortality for pulmonary embolectomy in these circumstances is high, from 10 to 75 percent. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are major health problems that produce significant morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological evidence indicates that VTE is both underdiagnosed and undertreated. Primary prevention involves educating patients about risk factors, activities that prevent venous stasis and promote tissue perfusion, signs, and symptoms of VTE, and the need to seek immediate treatment if symptoms occur. 1 Patient teaching should include helping patients understand how physical measures such as early mobility, deep breathing, leg exercises, frequent position changes, and compression stockings or compression devices help decrease their VTE risk.
Secondary prevention involves identifying patients at risk and starting prophylactic therapy.
Patients discharged on anticoagulant therapy should receive education about side effects, food and drug interactions, symptoms of bleeding, and the importance of follow-up after discharge. Nurses can help prevent potentially fatal PE in patients who would otherwise survive surgery, trauma, spinal cord injury, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Venous thrombosis can occur insidiously in virtually any condition and may quickly become life-threatening. It is essential that nurses be aware of which patients are at risk and recognize that traditional clinical symptoms of DVT such as calf pain or a positive Homan's sign may be unreliable. Careful assessment of each patient's risk factors, diligent nursing care, and patient education can save lives, improve quality of life, and reduce costs associated with this common and often deadly condition.