Postoperative Hemostasis Monitoring and Management

Although postoperative hemorrhage is an understood sequela, surgery also elicits an inflammatory response that may result in a hypercoagulable state and risk for venous or arterial thromboembolism. Postoperative venous thromboembolism is well documented in humans and is multifactorial in nature; however, evidence for its presence in veterinary medicine remains sparse. There is no consensus on the ideal type, dose, and duration of thromboprophylactic therapy in the perioperative period. Regardless, coagulation perturbations secondary to surgical stress are important considerations for the perioperative patient to reduce the possible fatal risks of hemorrhage or thrombosis.