Surgical Stockings After an Operation

Surgical stockings, or compression hose are used after an operation to reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs. Post-operative immobility can cause blood to stagnate and subsequently clot. Surgical stockings provide gentle vascular compression which encourages blood flow.

Time Frame

• Surgical stockings are put on the patient immediately after an operation and stay on until the physician writes an order for removal. As the patient becomes more ambulatory, the risk of blood clots decreases so the need for surgical stockings becomes less acute.

Benefits

• Surgical stockings are also called anti-thromboembolytic (TED) hose. In addition to promoting optimal leg circulation, surgical stockings provide soothing pressure to the legs, helping the patient feel more secure when attempting to ambulate.

Warning

• Nursing staff need to check the patient's circulation and skin condition by periodically removing the surgical stockings. If the stockings are not removed, signs and symptoms of dangerous blood clots such as redness, warmth and swelling might not be revealed. A post-operative patient is not always able to perceive pain and other symptoms of potential blood clots, so if nursing staff does not evaluate the legs without the surgical stockings, the patient is in danger of experiencing a thrombolytic event.