Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Surgical Patients

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in the surgical patient remains an important medical issue. Research has shown that VTE, which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, occurs frequently in hospitalized patients who have undergone general, major gynecologic, major urologic, major orthopedic, or neurosurgery if preventive measures are not taken. Although it is impossible to predict with certainty which surgical patients will develop VTE, it is important for medical consultants to have a working knowledge of the different risk factors for VTE as well as current prophylaxis recommendations in order to employ appropriate strategies to reduce the risk of VTE. The following module discusses the clinical impact of VTE in surgical patients, reviews the various risk factors for VTE in surgical patients, and discusses prophylaxis options. In addition, goals for VTE prophylaxis and methods for evaluating when and how to initiate prophylaxis and determining the length of pharmacologic intervention are provided using recent research and the American College of Chest Physicians 2012 guidelines.

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