Stress ulcer prophylaxis, thromboprophylaxis and coagulation management in patients with hip fractures

Hip fracture in older patients is a major health concern. 20-25 % of hip fracture patients will die in the first year after the trauma (Lane, Clin Orthop Relat Res 471(8):2711, 2013). Postoperative venous thrombosis and gastrointestinal stress-ulcer bleeding are frequent complications with a high case-fatality rate particularly in older patients. Thromboprophylaxis and stress ulcer prophylaxis are important and well established measures to decrease postoperative complications and the mortality rate in this high-risk population.The working group on orthogeriatrics of the Austrian Society on Geriatrics and Gerontology (ÖGGG) is composed of geriatricians who work as trauma surgeons, internists, anaestesists and nurses. A thorough literature search was done, using the terms "orthogeriatrics" and "hip fracture" in combination with "stress ulcer", "gastrointestinal bleeding" and "thrombosis", "thromboprophylaxis". The data was collected, discussed and evaluated in several adjustment meetings of the group and summarized in this article.