Blood
clots occur when the blood moves slowly,
as in the prostatectomy for the treatment of prostate
cancer. In the perineal, robotic, and laparoscopic prostatectomies,
the patient is placed in the high dorsal lithotomy position
which places the legs over the head. Sometimes, the
blood can move so sluggishly through the legs, that
the platelets in the plasma begin to clot. If a clot
forms in the legs, called deep venous thrombosis, a
piece could break off and cause heart attack, stroke,
or pulmonary embolism.
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