Help with rationale?

Question

in a patient with anoxic brain injury due to drug overdose (happened approx 3-4 weeks ago), what would be the rationale to give asprin ec 325 mg, prednisone, and heparin injections suq q . i know the aspirin and heparin are to keep his blood thinned but is not bed bound. he gets up in a w/c with assistance. he has speech/memory issues but now is in a neuro rehab center. thanks for your help in helping me understand his medical treatment

Answer 1

The patient is at high risk for a deep vein thrombosis due to his basic immobility -- getting up in a WC is not sufficient exercise to prevent DVTs. Depending on the extent of his brain injury you would want him to do the muscle clenching sorts of exercises for his legs to help reduce blood stasis in his veins. I suspect the prednisone may be given to reduce or to prevent cerebral edma but the patient seems to be on the outer limits of needing that sort of therapy.  Good luck!