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Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Screening for Proximal Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Published on: February 10, 2023
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Surgical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis: clinical practice update
Yogita Sharma Segon1, Robert D Summey2, Barbara Slawski1
1Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin , Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Hospital Practice (1995)
|June 27, 2020
Summary
Updated guidelines for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in surgical patients recommend risk assessment tools and consider aspirin for orthopedic procedures. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is effective for VTE prophylaxis.
Area of Science:
- Perioperative Medicine
- Thrombosis Research
- Surgical Patient Care
Background:
- Perioperative medicine is dynamic, with ongoing research influencing surgical patient care.
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant concern for surgical patients.
- This review updates current practices in VTE prevention for surgical populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated overview of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention strategies in surgical patients.
- To highlight recent literature and its potential impact on clinical practice.
- To inform healthcare providers on current evidence-based VTE prophylaxis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of peer-reviewed articles on VTE prevention in surgical patients.
- Focus on literature published since the 2012 ACCP guidelines.
- Analysis of VTE prophylaxis methods, including pharmacological and mechanical approaches.
Main Results:
- Risk assessment tools, like the modified Caprini score, are recommended for non-orthopedic surgery.
- Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) shows greater efficacy than unfractionated heparin (UFH) for VTE prophylaxis in non-orthopedic surgery.
- Aspirin is now an option for VTE prophylaxis in total hip/knee arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery.
- Extended LMWH prophylaxis reduces symptomatic VTE in high-risk cancer surgery and major orthopedic surgery.
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and surveillance ultrasonography are not recommended for VTE management or detection.
Conclusions:
- Recent data offers potential shifts in perioperative VTE prevention strategies.
- Evidence supports tailored VTE prophylaxis based on surgical type and patient risk factors.
- The findings aim to guide evidence-based clinical decision-making in perioperative settings.
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