T.E.D.s do u use them for all major cases only

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 16, 2003

Where I work, only the "big" cases (total knees/hips, AAA repairs etc.) have to wear TEDs. On the other hand, every surgical pt. > 200#, >35 yrs., or otherwise at high risk for DVT gets pulse boots (SCDs), even for outpatient procedures.

Chrislynn2003 · Oct 16, 2003

WE don't always use TEDS. But the majority of the time, the clients come to the OR with PCB's (what are compression boots where i work) so that staff cover themselves from a client getting DVT.

spineCNOR · Oct 17, 2003

The hospital where I currently work is a level 1 trauma center with lots of sick patients. Most every patient gets the pneumatic TED hose (knee-high)--these are ordered by the surgeon and placed on the ptient in the holding area.

squeek · Oct 17, 2003

any op over 30 minutes, or any pt. with high risk factors wears teds in OR, we place them in OR usually before induction, intermittent calf stimulators are also used for all long OPs. Organised by the nursing staff ... its our call.

carcha · Oct 18, 2003

thanks u guys, am doing some research on this and their use appears to vary . anyone know a good site with info i can download?

yoga crna · Oct 24, 2003

The best and most current article I have seen is in the June, 21 2003 British Medical Journal. I believe it is . This is an excellent site for full length articles at no cost. I read it every week. I have downloaded the article and keep it in the C-E file at our facility.

Everything that can be done to prevent this complication should be done. Good nursing care is essential. We use pneumatic teds on all cases. It is easy, inexpensive and effective.

YogaCRNA

melbnurse · Oct 24, 2003

At my facillity, all Ortho post ops wear TEDs until they are fully ambulant

carcha · Oct 24, 2003

thanks yoga, owe u big time

stevierae · Oct 26, 2003

I've always thought of it as a nursing decision; just doing optimal patient care. I used to hate it when someone would challenge you for daring to make a decision to put on TEDs and SCDs (sequential compression devices, or pneumatic boots...) even the surgeon sometimes...."We don't need those...I didn't order those..." but, usually they are glad you took the initiative to put them on. Why not cut down on the risk of DVT or even a PE (and subsequent death) if you have the technology? I suspect they will soon be standard of care on ALL surgical patients, if for no other reason than to prevent lawsuits.

I have lately been reading about attorneys suing AIRLINES because people got DVT during long flights, using the rationale, "This could have been prevented"! I don't know what the airlines were supposed to do--give everybody a dose of Lovenox with their complimentary drinks? Pass out TEDs? Actually, passing out TEDs may not be such a dumb idea....

carcha · Oct 30, 2003

thanks to all of u for your help, I recently did a lot of research into TEDS, and for the first time knew what TEDS stands, thought it was the manufacturer for many years. anyway it was really interesting the dos and donts of TEDS. As for airline people getting sued. I must say for many years before this new economy syndrome become "known" I always moved around on an airplane, it was just common sense. How are the airlines supposed to monitor everyone at risk?, even hospitals get it wrong

stevierae · Oct 31, 2003

Originally posted by carcha
thanks to all of u for your help, I recently did a lot of research into TEDS, and for the first time knew what TEDS stands, thought it was the manufacturer for many years. anyway it was really interesting the dos and donts of TEDS. As for airline people getting sued. I must say for many years before this new economy syndrome become "known" I always moved around on an airplane, it was just common sense. How are the airlines supposed to monitor everyone at risk?, even hospitals get it wrong

That's why I'm thinking that hospitals and airlines BOTH should just give them to everybody--the hospitals when they give the patient his basin, water pitcher, etc; the airline passengers when they check in. Heck, why not? Could it hurt? If it saved one patient from DVT or PE or death, and themselves form a lawsuit, it would have been worth it.

They could just pass out small, medium and large on the airlines, and probably knee length would be fine--in the hospital, I think they would probably actually measure each patient, and might splurge on the thigh high ones--

I've even seen this service at some of the "day spas" and nail and hair salons around here lately--they put SCDs on everybody while they are relaxing during a facial or a manicure or pedicure, and simply call it a "leg massage." Huh, somebody was pretty smart--buy a couple of machines, market it to all their clients as a form of relaxation, and charge each client probably $50 for the "massage!" They probably light a candle and call it "aromatherapy" during the "leg massage" too--and also charge handsomely.

Incidentally, you are right; we all use TEDs as sort of a generic term--but a lot of hospitals don't use the brand name TEDs anymore. They use JOBST stockings.