Browse Guides  internal medicine  cardiology

Prevalence Clinical features Differential diagnosis Investigations Therapy Prevention Prognosis

Prevention All patients who are  a   having major surgery (especially orthopaedic) a   likely to have poor mobility a   major trauma a   leg plaster cast a   spinal cord injury a   stroke a   decompensated heart failure a   myocardial infarction or unstable angina a   at increased risk for DVT old a   active cancer having chemotherapy a   recurrent venous thromboembolism a   pregnant with thrombophilia c  should have venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. a   using  thigh-length graduated compression stockings a  with a the following if required -  Moderate-risk cases    low-dose heparin a  5000 units every 12 hours (adjusted so aPTT 1.0 to 1.1) a   High-risk cases (major abdominal, gynaecological , neurosurgical, cardiovascular or orthopaedic surgery)  Any of  low molecular weight heparin a e.g. 40 mg enoxaparin daily. a   thigh-length intermittent pneumatic compression a   Alternatives include warfarin a   hirudin a   anti-platelet drugs a  (aspirin, dipyridamole, hydroxychloroquine, ticlodopine) Continue prophylaxis for 4 to 6 weeks. a

Expiry date: January 2004
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides