general measures
Last reviewed 01/2018
The patient should be confined to bed for the first 24 hours with the foot of the bed elevated by 15-30 degrees.
Pain and swelling should be alleviated by full length graduated compression stockings and analgesics.
- there is evidence that the daily use of compression stockings reduced the risk of any and severe post-thrombotic syndrome (by about 55% (when compared with no intervention or placebo stockings) )(1)
The patient should then be mobilised and encouraged to perform regular leg exercises.
Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a long-term complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) characterised by chronic pain, swelling and skin changes in the affected limb.
Reference:
- Kolbach DN et al. Non-pharmaceutical measures for prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; (1): CD004174.