Prevention

• with the following if required - ^a

• Adding compression stockings to other DVT prophylaxis leads to fewer DVT than using other DVT prophylaxis alone.  ^a
• Adding heparin ^a or a low-molecular-weight heparin ^a to compression stockings or pneumatic compression ^a reduces symptomatic venous thromboembolism in neurosurgery, major abdominal surgery, or orthopaedic surgery. 
• There is no clear effect on the rate of bleeding. ^a

Adding compression stockings to other DVT prophylaxis reduces deep vein thrombosis

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	OR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
immobilised inpatient a	compression stockings and other DVT prophylaxis	other DVT prophylaxis alone	DVT at weeks	15%	0.24 (0.15 to 0.37)	9 (8 to 12)

Adding heparin or LMWH to compression stockings reduces symptomatic venous thromboembolism

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
elective cranial or spinal surgery a	compression stockings and enoxaparin until discharge	compression stockings until discharge	symptomatic venous thromboembolism at weeks	6.9%	89% (14% to 99%)	16 (9 to 65)
elective major abdominal surgery a	compression stockings and heparin for 5 days	heparin for 5 days	venous thromboembolism at 7 days	12%	84% (23% to 100%)	10 (6 to 35)
total knee replacement or tibial osteotomy a	compression stockings and ardeparin	compression stockings	DVT at 14 days	58%	50% (29% to 65%)	3 (2 to 6)