1. Blood Clots, DVTs, and the Use of T.E.D. Hose
By Manuel A. Gallegos, RN, BSN & Patty Stottlemyer RN

2. OBJECTIVES Know difference between veins and arteries
Effects of walking on veins in the legs
Define blood clot
Know what is a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Know signs and symptoms of a DVT
Know what T.E.D. hose stands for and when to apply them
Know how to maintain TED hose

3. Blood Flow: Heart, Arteries and Veins3

4. Walking - Muscles Contract
When walking , your muscles contract, putting pressure on the veins
Pushing venous blood flow from the feet, into the calves, into the thighs, and back to the heart
When clients are just sitting all day, the muscles are not putting pressure on the veins
Blood is not getting pushed back to the heart like when the muscles contract with walking

5. Walking - muscles Contract
As a result, the blood just sits (pools) in the lower legs, especially in the sitting position
The pooling of blood can cause clots to form, especially after hip, or other leg bone surgery
If the clots break off from the vein, they can travel up to the heart and out to the arteries of the lungs
This can block blood flow to the lung, the person can stop breathing, and possibly die

6. Blood Flow / Blood Clots

7. What is a Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (Throm-BO-sis), or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body
The loose clot is called an embolus (EM-bo-lus)
Most deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh can cause pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg

8. Deep Vein Thrombosis

9. What you may see in a DVT

10. What are TED Hose?
Elastic, tight-fitting stockings that keep mild pressure on the feet and legs
Goal: To prevent blood from “pooling” in lower legs and forming blood clots
To prevent fluid from accumulating in feet and ankles in patients with heart problems – Called swelling or edema

11. TED Hose: Thrombo-Embolic Deterrent Hose
Thrombo = Blood Clot
Embolic = Clogging vein
Pressure stockings that squeeze blood back to the heart
Goal: To prevent blood clots in the legs

12. Squeezes Blood in the leg veins back to the heart
TED Hose:
Squeezes Blood in the leg veins back to the heart

13. Who wears TED Hose?
1. Patients inactive after surgery, especially hip and leg bone surgery
2. Patients with poor venous (vein) circulation
3. Patients with foot and leg edema
4. Heart problems

14. What Caregivers should know about TED Hose
Some people wear TED hose only during the day when out of bed, then take off at night
Some clients will wear both day and night
Take them off for at least one hour a day
Keep TED Hose clean, change if wet or soiled

15. TED Hose Care
Launder/wash frequently Cold or warm wash or hand wash Bleaching TED hose is not recommended

16. Summary 1.Thrombus means Blood Clot
2. A D.V.T. stands for ____ _____ ______
3. The symptoms of DVT are: p_ _ n, swe_ _ing, and w_r_t_ to leg
4. T.E.D. stands for T____-E_____ Deterrent
5. T.E.D. hose can be hand washed, No bleach