Effect of Mechanical Measures on Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis among General Surgical Patients

Aim of the Study: To examine the effect of mechanical measures on prevention of deep vein thrombosis among general surgical patients. Setting: The study was carried out in General Surgical Department of Menoufia University Hospital. Subjects: A random sample of 120 general surgical patients. They were assigned randomly and divided alternatively into two equal groups, 60 patients for each groups. Tools: 3 tools were used for data collection. I: An interviewing questionnaire of deep vein thrombosis II: Deep vein thrombosis risk factors assessment sheet (scale) III: Deep vein thrombosis clinical assessment sheet (physiological measurement). Results: There was significant improvement in the knowledge about DVT after intervention among study group as compared to control group. The minority of the study and control group (13.3%) and (10%) respectively suffered from leg calf pain on admission, while after 3 weeks (6.7%) of the study group and (16.7%) of the control group suffered from leg calf pain. Regarding leg edema (13.3%) of the study group and (10%) of the control group suffered from leg edema on admission, while after 3 weeks the study group improved to become (6.7%) and control group (23.3%). Both study and control groups had a negative sign of homan’s test and Doppler result on admission, while after three weeks the study group still had negative sign of homan’s test and Doppler result compared to control group (6.31%) had positive sign of homan’s test and Doppler result. Conclusions: General surgical patients who exposed to mechanical measures were not exposed to deep vein thrombosis than those who exposed to routine hospital care only from general surgical department. Recommendations: A booklet about DVT prevention should be available and distributed for all general surgical patients in every ward.