[Prolonged postoperative thromboprophylaxis--current state of knowledge]

By "prolonged thromboprophylaxis" is usually meant around 30 days postoperatively. This modality using low molecular heparin in patients undergoing total hip replacement has been shown to be effective as regards incidence of both phlebographically detected deep vein thrombosis and--in meta-analysis--clinical venous thromboembolism. It is important to identify further risk groups who may be in need of prolonged thromboprophylaxis. Recent data suggest that patients undergoing abdominal/pelvic surgery for malignant diseases belong to such a group.