For your patients

You’re facing big challenges. Patient education doesn’t have to be one of them

As you may know, the US Surgeon General recently called for a nationwide awareness campaign to help reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may be the #1 cause of preventable in-hospital deaths in the United States.³⁷ In addition, The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs)² specifically call for increased efforts in improving hospital-patient communication.

"Understand the risks to your patients...and your institution"

Up to 2 million Americans suffer from DVT blood clots annually³⁸
Approximately 300,000 fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) events occur annually,³⁹ the majority of which result from DVT⁴⁰
Complications from DVT kill more Americans than AIDS and breast cancer combined³⁸
DVT-related PE is the most common cause of preventable hospital death³⁷

Understand the importance of reducing DVT blood clots and meet quality measures with THE DVT PATIENT EDUCATION PROGRAM

This program helps support your compliance with NPSGs. DVT guidelines for appropriate prophylaxis are good, but they are simply not enough to comply with increasing standards as mandated by The Joint Commission NPSGs. For example:

NPSG.03.05.01 requires you provide patients with education on anticoagulation therapy²
NPSG.13.01.01 requires your institution to encourage patients to become actively involved in their own care, express concerns about their own safety, and provide the means for them to do so²

These resources help you educate patients to help improve HCAHPS scores

An increase in public accountability through the reporting of Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores has put additional pressure on your institution to improve the quality of your patients’ hospital experience.⁴¹ Our program helps by strengthening the patient–hospital relationship through better communication about medications given in the hospital and at discharge.

Important Safety Information

WARNING: SPINAL/EPIDURAL HEMATOMAS

When neuraxial anesthesia (epidural/spinal anesthesia) or spinal puncture is employed, patients anticoagulated or scheduled to be anticoagulated with low-molecular-weight heparins or heparinoids for prevention of thromboembolic complications are at risk of developing an epidural or spinal hematoma, which can result in long-term or permanent paralysis.

The risk of these events is increased by the use of indwelling epidural catheters for administration of analgesia or by the concomitant use of drugs affecting hemostasis, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), platelet inhibitors, or other anticoagulants. The risk also appears to be increased by traumatic or repeated epidural or spinal puncture.

Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of neurological impairment. If neurologic compromise is noted, urgent treatment is necessary.

Consider the potential benefit versus risk before neuraxial intervention in patients anticoagulated or to be anticoagulated for thromboprophylaxis (see Warnings and Precautions [5.1] and Drug Interactions [7]).

LOVENOX® (enoxaparin sodium injection) cannot be used interchangeably with other low-molecular-weight heparins or unfractionated heparin (UFH), as they differ in their manufacturing process, molecular weight distribution, anti-Xa and anti-IIa activities, units, and dosage.

As with other anticoagulants, use with extreme caution in patients with conditions that increase the risk of hemorrhage. Dosage adjustment is recommended in patients with severe renal impairment. Unless otherwise indicated, agents that may affect hemostasis should be discontinued prior to LOVENOX® therapy. Bleeding can occur at any site during LOVENOX® therapy. An unexplained fall in hematocrit (HCT) or blood pressure should lead to a search for a bleeding site. (See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS.)

In the ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) pivotal trial, the rates of major hemorrhages (defined as requiring 5 or more units of blood for transfusion, or 15% drop in HCT or clinically overt bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage [ICH]) at 30 days were 2.1% in the LOVENOX® group and 1.4% in the UFH group. The rates of ICH at 30 days were 0.8% in the LOVENOX® group and 0.7% in the UFH group. The 30-day rate of the composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or ICH (a measure of net clinical benefit) was significantly lower in the LOVENOX® group (10.1%) as compared to the UFH group (12.2%).

Thrombocytopenia can occur with LOVENOX®. In patients with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), LOVENOX® should be used with extreme caution. Thrombocytopenia of any degree should be monitored closely. If the platelet count falls below 100,000/mm³, LOVENOX® should be discontinued. Cases of HIT have been observed in clinical practice. (See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS.)

The use of LOVENOX® has not been adequately studied for thromboprophylaxis in pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves. (See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS.)

LOVENOX® is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to enoxaparin sodium, heparin, or pork products, and in patients with active major bleeding.

For more information, contact your local sanofi-aventis U.S. Representative or call sanofi-aventis U.S. Medical Information Services at 1-800-633-1610.

Please see full Prescribing Information including boxed WARNING.

Prescription LOVENOX® is available in pharmacies.

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