Calf muscle pump exercise and preventive measures: as means for prevention of deep vein thrombosis and its manifestations among a postpartum cesarean section

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. During pregnancy, and after caesarian section surgery the risk of DVT increases by five-ten times than the other time. It can be prevented through practicing of calf muscle pump exercise and following preventive measures as early ambulation.The purpose of the study:was to evaluate the effect of calf muscle pump exercise and preventive measures on the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)and its manifestations among a postpartum cesarean section. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used to fulfil the purpose of the study. Sample: A purposive sample of(200)post-partum women after cesarean section (study and control groups) wererecruited. Setting: The study was carried out atante-natal and post-natal wards of Menoufia University Hospital at Shebin El-Kom city at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Instruments: Five instruments were used by the researchers; (1) An interviewing questionnaire;(2) Author DVT risk assessment scale;(3) Women’s knowledge assessment questionnaire;(4) Calf muscle pump exercise and preventive measures questionnaire, and (5)DVT and its manifestations questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the control and the study groups were (25.16±5.41) and (25.59 ± 5.92) years old respectively. There were highly statistically significant differences between the study and the control groups regarding the level of knowledge, calf muscle pump exercise, preventive measures after the intervention (P<0.05*). Meanwhile, less than one-tenth of the control group had DVT and its manifestations during the follow up at the postpartum period. Conclusion: The study group had higher score regarding the level of knowledge, the performance of calf muscle pump exercise, and following preventive measures than the control group. Postpartum women who practiced calf muscle pump exercise and followed the preventive measures had a significant reduction in the occurrence of DVT and its manifestation than those who did not. Recommendation: Strengthen the nurses’ role in providing health education about DVT as a preventable disease. Calf muscle pump exercise and preventive measures should be added as an essential part of the routine antenatal care during the third trimester of pregnancy.