Pressure Injuries & DVT
How to Spot and Prevent Them
During your stay, you may lay in bed for many days—putting you at risk of getting a pressure injury or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These can cause a longer hospital stay, make recovery harder and lead to serious medical problems. Take the steps below to help prevent them.
Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries, or bedsores, happen to parts of your body with thin skin that you lay on all the time—like elbows, heels and hips. To help prevent them:
- Change position every two hours. Have your nurse help you switch between lying on your sides and back.
- Keep skin dry and clean. If you use the bathroom, be sure your nurse cleans your skin as soon as possible.
- Use pillows and foam. Prop up parts of your body with pillows, and ask for foam wedges to help you lay on your side.
- Check your medical device. This could be a cast, restraint or ID band. Have your nurse check that it’s the right size and secure, and ask for extra padding.
DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
DVT happens when blood can’t move through your body normally and a clot forms, usually in your leg. The clot could move to your lungs, causing a serious condition called pulmonary embolism. To help prevent DVT:
- Have your nurse help you change position every two hours.
- Get up and walk if you can. If you can’t, move your feet in circles to exercise your legs.
- Ask your doctor about taking blood thinner medicine and wearing compression stockings.
Know the Signs
Signs of a pressure injury include:
- change in skin color or texture
- warm or cool areas on your skin
- painful or tender spots
- swelling on your skin
- a new wound that has pus-like draining
Signs of DVT include:
- sudden swelling of your leg or arm
- soreness or cramps in your legs
- change in skin color on your legs, arms or neck
- warm area on your skin
If you notice one of these, tell your nurse right away.