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Anticoagulation
Economy Class Syndrome
Doctors may want to take special precautions for patients who must fly long distances for surgery,
a new report suggests. Researchers found that long-haul flights greatly increase risks for major blood
clots in the legs in these patients. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., analyzed data
on more than 3,700 patients who traveled an average of more than 5,000 miles to have surgery at that
medical center.
The study found that the rate of blood clots or pulmonary embolisms within 28 days of surgery was more
than 30 times higher in these long-distance travelers than among patients who had short trips or didn't
have to travel.
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These patients are at risk for pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot breaks
into smaller pieces and carried through the blood and become lodged in the blood vessels that
supply the lungs. Pulmonary embolism can result in sudden death.
Researchers said patients taking long flights can help prevent blood clots by: staying
well-hydrated, moving about the cabin, and wearing elastic compression stockings. Prescription
drugs might also be considered for people at high-risk for blood clots.
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