UBTH Creates Awareness on Blood Clot in Veins

The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has embarked on a massive campaign to sensitise staff and patients on blood clot within the veins, which is said to be the leading cause of preventable deaths in hospitals.

This was to mark the 2021 World Thrombosis Day designed to increase global awareness on the causes, risk factors, signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment of thrombosis.

The CMD, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, described thrombosis as an abnormal blood clot in the vessels and a potentially dangerous condition that could lead to heart failure, stroke and the commonest cause of death.

He called on caregivers, patients and the general public to seize the opportunity offered by the World Thrombosis Day events to learn about the condition and what to do to prevent unnecessary death currently being attributed to it.

A Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Stanley Okugbo, in a presentation at the rally said, “thrombosis which is also known as blood clot is the number 1 silent killer of patients admitted in hospitals”.

He noted that referred to in medical parlance as Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is common and is associated with “significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalised medically ill and surgical cancer patients.”

According to Okugbo, 55 per cent to 60 per cent of VTE cases occur during or following hospitalisation adding that 2 in 4 people in the hospital would die from causes related to blood clots.

He said thrombosis usually forms in the hands and legs and is one of the causes of sudden deaths. “Knowledge of thrombosis can help in preventing it.”

The surgeon highlighted some symptoms including swelling in legs and arms that comes without warning, pains and soreness when walking or standing, warm or hot sensations in the area that hurts. However, in many instances, there may be no symptoms at all.

Those at risk include the elderly, those with serious health issues, those on birth control pills, people suffering from obesity and those with high cholesterol levels.

Steps in the prevention of thrombosis include: to avoid sitting for too long or too much and engaging in regular exercises.

The events were rounded off with a webinar organised by the hospital for multi specialty participants from across the nation to exchange ideas towards better understanding of the condition in the country.