[Thromboprophylaxis: medical recommendations and hospital programs]

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the most preventable cause of death in hospitalized patients. Hospital-related VTE is associated with more than half of the VTE burden in a community, either in-hospital or after discharge. Selective thromboprophylaxis is recommended for patients at risk. Patient selection for thromboprophylaxis requires proper VTE risk stratification. VTE stratification may be achieved by either risk assessment models (RAM) or by models based on patient's illness and associated risk factors. Whatever the model, a thromboprophylatic recommendation should be formulated for each VTE risk category. VTE thromboprophylaxis may include general measures, mechanic compression procedures, pharmacological intervention or a combined approach. After many decades of consensus statements, a large proportion of at risk patients (20% to 75%) still does not receive proper thromboprophylaxis. This study aims to alert to the relevance of thromboprophylaxis and to suggest hospital thromboprophylatic strategies in a Brazilian setting.