Tuesday, February 9, 2010
 
 
 

PATIENT EDUCATION


The SVN provides educational booklets for patients:

They're Back!!
Patient Education Booklets you can use as a written reference for the teaching you are giving to your patients. The booklets are designed as an introduction to what peripheral vascular disease is and then more specific to the disease process your patient is experiencing. These may also be used as a reference for staff nurses not familiar with PVD and it's treatments.  These booklets may be printed and used by any SVN member.
Not intended for resale.  (Download full pdf files by clicking on the blue buttons to the left or links below)

The SVN provides general information for patients.
(Download full pdf files located in the left red margin)

Arteriogram:  An arteriogram or angiogram is a special x-ray to examine the arteries or blood vessels within your body. It is used to look for blood vessels that have become clogged or blocked. A specially trained physician called an Interventional Radiologist, Cardiologist or Vascular Surgeon does the arteriogram. After injecting an x-ray dye through a needle or small catheter, a series of x-rays of the area are taken. The dye allows the physician to see a “road map” of your arteries. Blocked Arteries and Veins

Childrens' Vascular Health Activity Book: This vascular health activity book for children ages 5 through 12 teaches children about how our vascular system works and is available free of charge.  Provided by the Society for Vascular Surgery

Compression Paste Bandage:  Compression paste bandages are gauze roll bandages saturated with zinc oxide (with or without calamine lotion) used to improve venous circulation, reduce swelling, and promote healing of wounds.

Coumadin:  Coumadin® (Warfarin) is an oral anticoagulant. It is a medication that will help thin your blood in order to prevent clots from forming in your blood vessels. It is very important to maintain an adequate level of Coumadin® in your blood. If the level of Coumadin® is too low, your blood may clot in your blood vessels. If the level of Coumadin® is too high, bleeding may occur.

CT Scan:  A CT scan is an x-ray picture of your body where images or pictures of the horizontal slices of your body are taken and read by a radiologist.

Tobacco Cessation:  Quitting tobacco is a very difficult decision. Ask healthcare providers for information on smoking cessation programs, ways to quit, and medications that may help. Don't give up — if you fail, try again. Practice makes perfect!

Varicose Veins:  Varicose veins are dilated, twisting, bulging, discolored veins that are very close to the surface of the skin. Varicose means “dilated and twisted, and that is exactly what varicose veins in the leg look like. The dilated and bulging veins are filled with blood and the pressure in these veins is high because the valves in the veins that help the blood return to the heart are damaged.