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Does Stopping Lovenox Injections After Surgery Cause A Stroke?

Posted on Mon, 21 Apr 2014

Question: My father was placed on Lovenox injections after surgery from a broken hip. He was given an injection of 40 mg. daily from Nov. 11, 2013 the day of surgey until he left rehab on XXXXXXX 3, 2014. The treatment plan I was given the week prior to his dismissal said he was to stay on this until XXXXXXX 18, 2014. When the nurse came in to go over over his medications before being dismissed I noticed that the Lovenox was not on the list. I inquired about it and she went and asked a doctor ? and said he did not need it anymore. 10 days later, I found my father dead after having a stroke during the night. By not having the Lovenox, could this have caused a blood clot?

Answered by Dr. Karl Logan (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Stopping the lovenox was likely not responsibile Detailed Answer: I'm so sorry to hear that. what a difficult time for you. The lovenox therapy is to prevent deep vein thrombosis (clots) in the legs and also pulmonary embolism, blood clots in the chest. The stroke that your father had could have been a clot or a bleed in the brain. If it was a bleed then being on the lovenox may have made it worse. If it was a clot then there is a possibility that the lovenox could have prevented it but personally I would have thought that this would be unlikely. I'm sorry for your loss. I hope this information helps best wishes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Karl Logan (4 hours later)

Thanks for your advice. One thing I failed to mention was that 2 days prior to his death he complained with his leg feeling very heavy and pains in his calf as well. The day before he told me he was having trouble getting a good breath. Now looking back I realize the symptoms could have been from a blood clot but didn't put it together in time I guess.

Answered by Dr. Karl Logan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: His symptoms could have been because of a clot Detailed Answer: Yes your right. Calf pain and swelling are the cardinal symptoms of a deep vein thrombosis. Chest pain and breathlessness of a pulmonary embolism. These symptoms could have been consistent with a clot in these places. The theory is that clots in the legs break off, pass through the right side of the heart and get stuck in the lungs although this may in fact not be the case and the clots may form in these places at the same time i.e. it may be a systemic problem.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D