Blood Clots after Surgery

Blood clotting is one of the vital processes in the body, which prevents bleeding after an injury or trauma. A blood clot is formed of platelets, red blood cells and fibrin protein. Blood clots are naturally dissolved in the body, when the wound or injury has healed. Sometimes, blood clots are formed without any apparent reason. If the clot is not dissolved naturally, it can prove dangerous and lead to a number of health problems.

Blood Clots After Surgery

After any surgical procedure, there is a risk of developing some complications. Formation of blood clots is one of such health problems. Blood clots are more common after orthopedic surgeries like back surgery, knee replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery, joint surgery or fracture repair. Pelvic surgeries like gynecological and urological surgeries also involve the risk of blood clots. Most blood clots are formed within 2 weeks after the surgery; however, some may develop within a few hours or even during the surgical procedure.

Generally, physical activity after the surgery helps to prevent the formation of blood clots. But, in case of hip or joint surgery, it may be difficult to get back to normal physical activities. In such cases, there is an increased risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). People over 40 years of age are at a higher risk of blood clots after surgery. The risk of formation of blood clots is associated with the type of surgery, medications taken and the patient's medical history.

Deep vein thrombosis is common after the joint replacement surgery. In DVT, blood clots are formed in the veins of the leg and pelvis. They can interfere with normal blood circulation in this area. You may experience sudden swelling, soreness, warmth, redness and pain in your thigh and lower leg. Blood clot may break off and travel to other body parts through the bloodstream, known as embolism.

If blood clot travels to the lungs, then it can lead to a fatal condition, called pulmonary embolism. It can block the arteries in the lungs. This can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeats, fainting, dizziness, anxiety, coughing and mild fever. Pulmonary embolism is a serious health condition, which can even lead to death.

Whenever you notice the symptoms of blood clot, you should avoid rubbing or massaging the affected area. This can dislodge the clot, allowing it to move to another body part. If the clot blocks the veins in the lungs, brain or heart, it can lead to life-threatening health conditions. Formation of blood clots after surgery is diagnosed by various tests like D-dimer blood test, leg venography, plethysmography of the legs, chest X-ray, lung scan, pulmonary angiogram and Doppler ultrasound. Blood clots are treated with blood-thinning drugs like aspirin or anticoagulants like heparin or warfarin.

Post-operative blood clots can be prevented by taking blood-thinning medications prescribed by the doctor, use of compression stockings and attempting physical activities after the surgery to improve blood circulation.