Do You Reccomend Lovenox Injections for DVT/PE Prevention After TT and if So, for How Long?

Also wondering if you reccomend an overnight hospital stay.

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by laughoften in Newark, DE

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Do You Reccomend Lovenox Injections for DVT/PE Prevention After TT and if So, for How Long?

My patients stay over for 1-2 nights after and if I am combining TT and Lipo, or TT in a larger patient, then I do give DVT prophylaxis.... Heparin 5000u sub Q before anesthesia and then Lovenox for several days after....I have had 7 or so patients in 20 years develop a DVT, all did well and all were associated with TT or TT/Lipo

Lovenox for tummy tucks

The previous posts all provide very good information. I personally prescribe Lovenox for all of my patients who are having a tummy tuck, as this procedure is the highest risk in the Plastic Surgery field for PE/DVT. I have my patients start their first dose 3 hours prior to surgery, and I do require an overnight stay after surgery. I have not seen an increase in post operative bleeding, and I believe that this greatly decreases the risk of a pulmonary embolism or deep... more

Lovenox after tummy tucks

Great question. This has been discussed at great length by both plastic surgeons and all surgeons for that matter. I personally go by personal history and risk factors. If you have low risk factors and no personal history, I do not anti-coagulate, but use compression stockings and early mobilization. I perform the procedure as an outpatient, use pain pumps to permit earlier mobilization. Time under anesthesia also plays a role, as some surgeons take up to twice the amount of time to perform... more

Rick Rosen, MD

3 reviews

Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

DVT/PE after tummy tuck

Hello, This a very important question as the risk of DVT/PE is perhaps the most worrisome complication of an abdominoplasty procedure. The risks of DVT/PE are increased by a handful of factors including: 1) Dehydration: thats why you should received plenty of IV fluids during surgery and make sure you drink lots of water when you go home. 2) Lack of movement: Sequential compression devices during surgery and a pillow under the knees during surgery will help. Movement... more

Lovenox after tummy tuck

The risk of DVT after tummy tuck is a real risk, and the key is prevention. For all, we use sequential conpression and stockings. Lovenox can reduce the risk, and there are methods to score patients for DVT risk, and if the number is right then Lovenox is prescribed. Lovenox is started by injection 12 hours after the procedure, and continued daily for five days, and is easy to self administer with instruction. In our practice overnight stay is not common. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com more

Lovenox and Tummy Tucks

This is a very good question. The recommendations are really up and coming with regard to how often lovenox or anticoagulation in general should be used in major plastic surgery operations. Right now most plastic surgeons go by the recommendations by the American Society of Chest/Thoracic surgeons. Multiple category groups exist but in general a patient should be considered for anticoagulation if they meet some of these criteria: surgery expected to last longer than 2... more

Mahlon Kerr, MD

17 reviews

Austin Plastic Surgeon

Lovenox After Tummy Tuck

Dear Galena, The complication of a Deep Venous Thrombosis or a Pulmonary Embolism is one of the most dreaded in Tummy Tuck surgery. It can strike out of seemingly nowhere and can be fatal. Once it has occurred, it will require at minimum months of treatment and medication which is not without its own set of risks and complications. This is why ASPS has been working to define a set of guidelines for its member plastic surgeons to use to minimize these risks by using... more

Tummy Tuck -DVT/PE, Lovenox and Heparin

This is an excellent and timely question. Guidelines are slowly being established through discussion and sharing of information but, at this point, you will find many different answers to these questions. In my practice, I typically perform these procedures in my office surgical facility, under DIVA (deep intravenous anesthesia), we use compression devices for the lower legs, encourage and insist on early ambulation (including within a few hours of the surgery) AND I typically... more