A member asked:

Can patients walk while on heparin drip? can they walk around with pe or dvt or should they stay in bed?

14 doctors weighed in across 5 answers

Yes and no: There is nothing about a Heparin drip per se that precludes walking however, someone with a fresh DVT or pe ought to stay at rest initially (to avoid disrupting and possibly embolizing (sending downstream) the clot).

Answered 7/1/2015

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Yes: You can walk around with a Heparin drip, and you can also walk around with a dot in fact early ambulation protects the valves in the veins from becoming permanently abnormal.The clot can become adherent to the valve which will cause damage and could become a problem in a few years in terms of venous disease.

Answered 2/3/2015

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See below: Common teaching says that if you have an acute dvt, you should not walk until you are pain-free (assuming you have been treated all along - with Heparin or a low-molecular-weight analogue such as Lovenox (enoxaparin) or arixtra). Rationale is there is inflammation and active clotting while there is pain. Hope this helps!

Answered 6/27/2014

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Yes: As long you started on full anticoagulation like Heparin then there is no reason to stay in bed , on the contrary of old school teaching , walking , after full anticoagulantion is encouraged . Be sure to wear a compression stocking 30-40 mmhg knee high.

Answered 6/25/2014

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Dr. Klaus d Lessnau answered

Specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care

YES: As long as they are on a drip and there is no "floating embolus" in the leg. This can be checked with imaging. Lovenox is certainly another option.

Answered 9/26/2012

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