A patient who had recent surgery or injury
💠 Recent surgery or injury increases the risk for venous thrombosis because tissue damage activates clotting mechanisms and may reduce mobility.
💠 Surgical procedures can injure blood vessels and create a hypercoagulable state.
💠 Immobilization after surgery also contributes to venous stasis, which is one of the major causes of thrombosis.
💠 This combination of vessel injury, reduced movement, and clotting activation significantly increases risk.
💠 Therefore, a client with recent surgery or injury is at increased risk for VT.
An elderly patient who is immobile for several days
💠 Immobility slows venous blood flow, especially in the lower extremities, which promotes venous stasis.
💠 Older adults are particularly vulnerable because circulation may already be less efficient and activity levels may be reduced.
💠 Prolonged bed rest is a well-known risk factor for deep vein thrombosis.
💠 Lack of muscle contraction in the legs reduces the normal pumping action that supports venous return.
💠 Therefore, an elderly patient who is immobile for several days is at increased risk.
A patient taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
💠 Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy can increase clotting tendency because estrogen affects coagulation factors.
💠 These medications are recognized risk factors for venous thromboembolism.
💠 The risk may be even higher when combined with smoking, immobility, or inherited clotting disorders.
💠 The nurse should assess medication history carefully when screening for VT risk.
💠 Therefore, a client taking these hormonal therapies is at increased risk.
A patient recently diagnosed with COVID-19 infection
💠 COVID-19 infection is associated with inflammation and a hypercoagulable state, which increases the risk of thrombosis.
💠 Many clients with COVID-19 develop clotting complications due to vascular inflammation and altered coagulation.
💠 This risk can exist even in clients who are not critically ill.
💠 Current nursing care recognizes COVID-19 as an important thrombotic risk factor.
💠 Therefore, a recently diagnosed COVID-19 infection increases the risk for VT.
A patient with a BMI of 28
💠 A BMI of 28 indicates overweight status, which may contribute somewhat to risk, but it is not the strongest option compared with the other major risk factors listed.
💠 The more clearly established VT risks here are surgery, immobility, hormone therapy, and COVID-19.