teds and scds

[jennifers]

Does anyone else put scds and teds both on all patients that have had surgery...and leave them both on. I just started a new job and this is the practice. Its different for me. I've used both before but not with each other. Its different for me and I wondered if any other hospitals did the same and what the reason for it was. I asked why but got the "because thats how we do it" answer.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

SCDs do not release anything. The compression of veins is what affects the coagulation cascade due to fibrinolysis (it is debated in the literature as to whether this really happens). In addition, they mechnically reduce venous stasis, which is one of Virchow's triad of factors that contribute to DVT.

Graduated compression stockings (TEDS) have increased pressure at the ankle which decreases moving towards the thigh - they improve venous return and prevent pooling in the extremities.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I would think that using SCDs on a patient along with TED would defeat the purpose of the SCD. If you've got that leg tissue pretty compressed to begin with, the pumping success of the SCD would be minimized as you should have some give/play to allow SCD action to occur.