Preventing Blood Clots - Surgical Guide to Right Total Knee Replacement

After total joint surgery, clots called deep vein thromboses (DVT) may form in the leg veins. In rare cases, these leg clots travel to the lungs where they may cause additional symptoms. To prevent and reduce the incidence of clot formation, mechanical devices (foot or calf pumps) are used while you are in the Hospital to squeeze the leg muscles, thus maintaining blood flow in the veins. Also, a medication to minimize clot formation, such as warfarin (Coumadin), enoxaparin (Lovenox) or aspirin, will be prescribed.