To be sure, so-called “thrombotic events” occur for a variety of reasons among intensive care patients, but the rates among Covid-19 patients are far higher than would be otherwise expected. Blood clots aren’t just dangerous for our limbs, but can make their way to the lungs, heart or brain, where they may cause lethal pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, and strokes. The experts found the risks were so great that Covid-19 patients “may need to receive blood thinners, preventively, prophylactically,” even before imaging tests are ordered, said Bikdeli. Next, being in intensive care makes a person likelier to develop a clot because they are staying still for so long. MicroclotsAccording to Brosnahan, while thinners like Heparin are effective in some patients, they don’t work for all patients because the clots are at times too small.

Source: Manila Times April 28, 2020 08:37 UTC