How Often Should a TED Hose Be Changed?
TED hose are anti-embolism stockings designed to prevent blood clots in those who are bedridden. They are typically used in hospital settings in patients who have had surgeries or other types of medical procedures and are confined to the bed. Changing TED hose frequently or when they become damaged is essential to protecting the patient from dangerous blood clots.
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Routine TED Hose Changes
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TED hose resemble many other kinds of stockings, but they are much tighter fitting. TED hose should be changed regularly according to the recommendations of the manufacturer. The elasticity in the stockings can diminish over time, resulting in decreased compression. The decrease in compression renders the TED hose ineffective for preventing blood clots. While the recommendations for how often this should be done vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, a general guideline is that most TED hose should be changed at least every two weeks.
Changing Soiled TED Hose
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TED hose should also be changed each time that they become wet or soiled. Moisture can cause chafing or irritation for the patient. This can also affect the compression of the stockings and cause them to be ineffective for preventing blood clots. Check the patient on a regular basis to ensure that the TED hose are not wet or soiled and change them any time that they become wet or soiled.
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Changing Damaged TED Hose
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Change TED hose any time there is a run in them. Like all stockings, TED hose can get runs. The fact that TED hose are much more tight fitting than other types of hosiery and stockings makes them difficult to put on without a lot of pulling. This also makes them much more susceptible to snags, tears and holes. Holes in the stockings mean that they cannot effectively do their job. It is very important that TED hose be changed if there are any signs of runs, snags, tears or holes.
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References
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