New nursing protocol aims to prevent deadly clots after heart surgery

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria:Inclusion Criteria Patients will be eligible for participation in the study if they meet all of the following criteria: 1. Adult patients aged 18 years or older. 2. Patients scheduled to undergo elective or urgent on-pump cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (e.g., coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement or repair, or combined procedures). 3. Both male and female patients. 4. Patients admitted to the participating cardiac surgery unit during the study period. 5. Patients with no evidence of preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) as confirmed by clinical assessment and/or Doppler ultrasonography when indicated. 6. Patients who are hemodynamically stable postoperatively and eligible to receive mechanical and/or pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. 7. Patients able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent (or consent obtained from a legal representative when applicable). 8. Patients expected to survive for at least three months postoperatively, allowing completion of the follow-up period. Exclusion Criteria:Exclusion Criteria Patients will be excluded from the study if they meet any of the following criteria: 1. History of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) within the previous six months. 2. Known congenital or acquired coagulation disorders, including but not limited to hemophilia, thrombophilia, or antiphospholipid syndrome. 3. Patients receiving long-term therapeutic anticoagulation (e.g., warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants) for other medical indications prior to surgery. 4. Contraindications to pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, such as: * Active bleeding * Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count \<50,000/µL) * History of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) 5. Contraindications to mechanical prophylaxis, including: * Severe peripheral arterial disease * Skin ulcers, infections, or recent lower-limb surgery preventing device application 6. Patients undergoing off-pump cardiac surgery or minimally invasive cardiac procedures not requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. 7. Emergency surgery requiring immediate intervention where preoperative assessment and consent cannot be obtained. 8. Pregnant or postpartum women. 9. Patients with severe renal or hepatic failure that may interfere with anticoagulant metabolism or increase bleeding risk. 10. Patients with documented malignancy under active treatment associated with a markedly elevated thrombotic risk. 11. Patients unwilling or unable to comply with the study protocol or follow-up schedule.