Preventing Blood Clots After Surgery
Early mobilisation, compression, hydration and a short course of blood-thinning medication.
Blood clot prevention is built into the surgical pathway. You will be out of bed within hours of surgery, wearing compression stockings, doing ankle pump exercises and on a daily blood-thinning tablet (commonly aspirin, rivaroxaban or similar) for 2–6 weeks depending on your individual risk.
Hydration matters: drink water regularly, particularly on flights and during recovery. Long periods of complete immobility — sitting still all day with the leg dependent — are exactly what to avoid.
Warning signs to call us about urgently: one-sided calf pain and swelling, sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing up blood. These are uncommon but require immediate assessment.
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