Guidelines And Recommendations - Arjohuntleigh Flowtron Excel Instructions For Use Manual

Guidelines and Recommendations

General
Recommendations
DVT Prophylaxis
5. The Flowtron Excel system should be USED
WITH CAUTION on patients with:
• Insensitive extremities.
• Diabetes.
• Impaired circulation.
• Fragile or impaired skin.

These are guidelines only and should not replace
clinical judgement and experience.
• While using the system, the patient's limbs should be
checked during every shift, and more often if the
patient has known circulatory or skin problems, or is
diabetic.
• Clinical judgment should be used to determine if the
patient's skin condition requires additional measures,
or if the treatment should be discontinued and
alternative modalities used.
• ArjoHuntleigh does not recommend the use of
compression stockings with its system. If these are
ordered by the physician, the clinician should ensure
that the compression stockings are properly
measured, applied and worn by the patient. Any
compression stocking used should be routinely
checked to ensure continued proper fit and
application, in addition to assessing the condition of
the skin.
• Where appropriate, patients should be instructed in
the proper use of the system, the purpose of therapy
and that any problems should be reported to the
nursing staff.
• The Flowtron Excel system should be applied to the
patient pre-operatively, prior to the induction of
anaesthesia.
• The system should be used continuously for no less
than 72 hours post-operatively or until the patient
becomes fully ambulatory.
• If the garment cannot be applied to the operative
limb during surgery, it may be applied to the limb
once the patient reaches the recovery unit.
In the non-surgical patient, the system should be
initiated immediately when the risk of DVT formation is
identified.
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