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Blood clots deep in the veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis) can occur after surgery if the blood thickens and clumps together. If a blood clot breaks off and travels through the blood stream into the lungs it could block blood flow and strain your heart. Care You Should Expect to Receive - High quality care after surgery should include treatments to prevent blood clots from forming. This is known as pulmonary embolism or (PE) and is a medical emergency. Patients are at increased risk of forming blood clots after surgery due to inactivity, the stress of surgery on the body and mild dehydration caused by surgery. Complications - Patients who experience blood clots are at risk for complications such as:
If the blood clot breaks off and travels up to the lungs (PE), patients are at risk for additional complications:
How Will This Help Me? When patients receive high quality care, they are more likely to achieve a good medical outcome (result). This can lower a patient’s risk for complications. |  |
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Our report will tell you how successful Minnesota hospitals are in preventing blood clots as measured by the Blood Clot Rate. Blood Clot Rates - Blood clots do not always represent medical errors. Some hospitals may experience a greater number of patients with blood clots because they see more sick patients. Our blood clot rate information is shown as a comparison between a hospital’s actual rate and the rate expected for that hospital. A rate that is the “Same” or “Better” than expected signifies high-quality care. About Our Report - Our Care Results reports are based on quality measures developed by the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ), and made available on HealthScores by the Minnesota Hospital Association. This report is based on information from hospital patient medical records for services provided between October 2010 and September 2011. Your hospital’s rating will vary depending on how many patients achieved a good medical outcome. Talk with your care team if you have questions or concerns. |  |
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