DVT Patient Safety Path brings patient education to life online with a virtual guided
tour to help patients prepare for hospitalization and take an active role in their healthcare
before, during, and after hospitalization.
By walking patients through the hospitalization process from preadmission to postdischarge,
DVT Patient Safety Path helps your hospital to meet important patient safety goals
and enhanced requirements for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) education and risk reduction.
DVT Patient Safety Path provides your healthcare staff with a simple way to:
- Educate patients about their rights, responsibilities, and expectations during a
hospital stay or surgical procedure
- Inform patients about their potential DVT risk and the use of LOVENOX®
- Empower patients and caregivers to take an active role in their healthcare
DVT Patient Safety Path connects patients with key resources in the hospital or at home
Whether your patients are accessing this online tool at home or in the hospital with the assistance of their healthcare team, DVT Patient Safety Path gives them access to a variety of resources, such as videos, hospital checklists, and risk-assessment forms. These resources can be viewed, printed, or saved directly from the tool.
A simplified format and easy navigation make DVT Patient Safety Path appropriate for
most patients. The tool will help your hospital to:
- Foster patient-hospital communication to meet National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) 13 and 13.01.01
- Encourage appropriate prophylaxis and education to meet NPSG.03.05.01 and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
View DVT Patient Safety Path now
Important Safety Information
WARNING: SPINAL/EPIDURAL HEMATOMA
Epidural or spinal hematomas may occur in patients who are anticoagulated with low
molecular weight heparins (LMWH) or heparinoids and are receiving neuraxial anesthesia
or undergoing spinal puncture. These hematomas may result in long-term or permanent
paralysis. Consider these risks when scheduling patients for spinal procedures.
Factors that can increase the risk of developing epidural or spinal hematomas in
these patients include:
- Use of indwelling epidural catheters
- Concomitant use of other drugs that affect hemostasis, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), platelet inhibitors, other anticoagulants
- A history of traumatic or repeated epidural or spinal punctures
- A history of spinal deformity or spinal surgery
Monitor patients frequently for signs and symptoms of neurological impairment. If
neurological compromise is noted, urgent treatment is necessary.
Consider the benefits and risks before neuraxial intervention in patients anticoagulated
or to be anticoagulated for thromboprophylaxis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- LOVENOX® (enoxaparin sodium injection) is contraindicated in patients with active
major bleeding; thrombocytopenia with a positive in vitro test for anti-platelet
antibody in the presence of enoxaparin sodium; known hypersensitivity to enoxaparin
sodium, heparin, pork products, or benzyl alcohol (multi-dose formulation only)
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- LOVENOX® should be used with extreme caution in conditions with increased risk of
hemorrhage. Major hemorrhages including retroperitoneal and intracranial bleeding
have been reported. Some of these cases have been fatal. 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
- For percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures, obtain hemostasis at the
puncture site before sheath removal and observe the site for signs of bleeding or
hematoma formation
- In the STEMI population, 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 unfractionated heparin (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, or ICH (a measure of net clinical
benefit) was significantly lower in the LOVENOX® group (10.1%) compared to the UFH
group (12.2%)
- LOVENOX® should be used with caution in patients with bleeding diathesis, uncontrolled
arterial hypertension or a history of recent gastrointestinal ulceration, diabetic
retinopathy, renal dysfunction, or hemorrhage
- 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
- LOVENOX® cannot be used interchangeably with other branded LMWH or UFH, as they differ in
their manufacturing process, molecular weight distribution, anti-Xa and anti-IIa
activities, units, and dosages
- Pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves and their fetuses may be
at increased risk for thromboembolism. Frequent monitoring of anti-Factor Xa levels
and adjusting of dosage may be needed
- LOVENOX® multiple-dose vials contain benzyl alcohol and should be used with caution
in pregnant women and only if clearly needed due to the risk of fatal "gasping syndrome"
in premature neonates
- Periodic complete blood counts, including platelet count, and stool occult blood
tests are recommended during the course of treatment with LOVENOX®
ADVERSE REACTIONS
- Most common adverse reactions (>1%) were bleeding, anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevation
of serum aminotransferase, diarrhea, and nausea
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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