Venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the legs or lung) are rare, but still one of the most common serious complications that can happen after bariatric or weight loss surgery. They are also mostly preventable through a combination of early activity, compression stockings and blood thinning medications. Until recently blood thinning medications meant daily injections, usually for 14 days after hospital discharge. We are pleased to report that an alternative protocol has been trialled in the US, where patients are switched from injections to tablets after two or three days, and that this appears to have similar outcomes to the prolonged course of injections.
At Aspiring Bariatrics we are pleased to be able to offer a 28 day course of blood thinning tablets for after people leave hospital, as an alternative to blood thinning injections. As these are not funded in NZ for this indication, there is a small additional cost for this medication.
For more information please contact us.