Venous Thromboembolism: Reducing the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism) in Patients Admitted to Hospital

Excerpt

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a term used to include the formation of a blood clot (a thrombus) in a vein which may dislodge from its site of origin to travel in the blood, a phenomenon called embolism. A thrombus most commonly occurs in the deep veins of the legs; this is called deep vein thrombosis. A dislodged thrombus that travels to the lungs is known as a pulmonary embolism.

The risk of developing VTE depends on the condition and/or procedure for which the patient is admitted and on any predisposing risk factors (such as age, obesity and concomitant conditions). Both of these types of risk will be assessed within the guideline.

This guideline examines the risk of venous thromboembolism and assesses the evidence for the effectiveness of primary preventative measures. It provides recommendations on the most clinically and cost effective measures to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism, whilst considering the potential risks of the various VTE prophylaxis options and patient preferences.