Venous Thromboembolism and Pulmonary Embolism: Strategies for Prevention and Management

Abstract

Perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication within the surgical patient population. Perioperative mechanical and chemoprophylaxis have been shown to reduce the incidence of both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Prophylactic regimen must be tailored to the patient's individual risk factors as well as the nature of the procedure. In the event of VTE, treatment most commonly includes long-term anticoagulation, whereas more severe cases may require lytic or mechanical interventions.

Keywords: Deep venous thrombosis; Management of VTE; Perioperative anticoagulation; Pulmonary embolism; VTE prophylaxis.