Patient/caregiver was instructed upon findings to watch for and report to the physician after hip replacement surgery as follows:
Signs and symptoms of clot formation:
- As the mobility and range of motion in the joint is limited during immediate post-surgical phase, blood tends to pool in the deep veins of the limb and increase risk for clot formation.
- Usually, clots are formed at the level of calf muscle in lower extremities. Large blood clots formed in the lower extremities can occlude the veins and obstruct the blood return in these veins towards the heart.
- Consequently, this can result in diffuse swelling of the leg below the level of the clot, due to the accumulation of blood.
- Also, occlusion of the vein by the clot can result in localized inflammation of the vein. This can lead to pain and pinpoint tenderness at the site of clot formation, usually at the level of calf muscle, with some redness and elevation of temperature at the site of the clot deposition in the limb.
- After hip replacement surgery, patients and caregivers must keep a close watch for any above-mentioned signs and symptoms of clot formation and report to the physician at the earliest for measures to prevent further complications.
Signs and symptoms of embolus formation:
- The blood clot or thrombus formed in the deep veins of the leg, if it were small enough, can travel up along the veins in the limb and get deposited in various body parts.
- These blood clots traveling in the blood to get deposited in various body parts, such as, lungs, heart, and brain are called emboli. Deposition of the blood clot in the lung can result in sudden onset of chest pain, extreme shortness of breath, and dry cough.
- Deposition of the blood clot in the heart can result in an episode of heart attack with sudden onset of chest pain and extreme shortness of breath.
- Deposition of the blood clot in the brain can obstruct blood flow to different vital parts of brain resulting in an episode of stroke, with weakness or paralysis of one side of body, facial drooping on one side, and impaired speech.
- After hip replacement surgery, patients and caregivers must keep a close watch for any above-mentioned signs and symptoms of embolus formation and report to the physician at the earliest for measures to prevent further complications.
