[Prevention of venous thromboembolism--in whom, when and how?]

Venous thromboembolic diseases are of major importance with respect to morbidity and mortality. Therefore, efficient prophylaxis is essential. Indication for thromboprophylaxis has to be made individually: In high risk situations, especially in orthopedic surgery, every patient should receive medical prophylaxis, e.g. with heparin, in addition to other preventive measures such as the wearing of elastic stockings or physiotherapy until full mobilization. For high-risk patients having a history of recurrent venous thromboembolism or which are suffering from a thrombogenic disease (e.g. myeloproliferative disorder, especially polycythemia vera, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, systemic lupus erythematosus, homocystinuria) or a hereditary thrombophilia (e.g. deficiency of antithrombin III, protein S, protein C or APC resistance), prophylactic measures should be more generally applied. In these patients, risk factors (e.g. oral contraceptive medication) or risk situations (e.g. long-distance travelling by car or airplane) have to be avoided whenever possible. In inevitable risk situations (e.g. perioperative or peripartal period) prophylaxis is mandatory. It is generally limited to the period of elevated thrombogenic risk and is often effected by application of a low molecular weight heparin. Patients with a history of recurrent thromboembolic events despite elimination of all avoidable risk factors should get a lifelong prophylaxis, usually with oral anticoagulants.