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“The Institute of Medicine has classified the failure to provide appropriate screening and preventive treatment to hospitalized, at-risk patients as a medical error.” [1]

Between 300,000-600,000 people suffer from DVT/PE each year. Up to 100,000 people die as a result.

For 1 out of every 4 people who develop a pulmonary embolism, the first and only sign is sudden death.

1 in 3 people with a history of DVT have another DVT within 10 years. [2]

In a study of 48 hospitalized patients all receiving medications to prevent blood clots, less than half of them had heard of deep vein thrombosis. [3]

It is estimated that 30% of people who have a DVT go on to develop a potentially fatal PE. [4]

In a study of 230 women who had just had C-sections, 106 had heard of DVT. That’s less than half. Of the 106, only 24 of them (22%) knew a C-section increased their risk for DVT.

DVT/PE is also the most common cause of pregnancy-related death. [5]

Everyone forgets deep vein thromboses can occur in your arms or pelvis too, not just your legs!

 

Citations

[1] US Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. Retrieved from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/deepvein/call-to-action-on-dvt-2008.pdf
[2] http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/index.html
[3] Le Sage, S., McGee, M, & Emed, J. D. (2008). Knowledge of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention among hospitalized patients. Journal of Vascular Nursing. XXVI(4), 109-117. doi:10.1016/j.jvn.2008.09.005
[4] http://www.webmd.com/dvt/deep-vein-thrombosis-pulmonary-embolism
[5] Alzoubi, K. H., Khassawneh, B. Y., Obeidat, B., Asfoor, S. S., & Al-azzam, S. I. (2013). Awareness of patients who undergo cesarean section about venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Journal of Vascular Nursing, XXXI(1), 15-20.