PROPHYLAXIS OF DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY-EMBOLISM - CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Pulmonary embolism remains a major cause of death in high-risk medical and surgical patients. This is unfortunate as effective measures for prevention of venous thromboembolism in such patients are now availabl e. Based on Level 1 evidence from clincial trials and systematic revie ws, recommendations can be made for the prevention of venous thromboem bolism in most situations. If such information is not available, recom mendations based on extrapolation from similar risk situations or from consensus opinions must be used. Additional clinical trials are requi red to fill in such gaps in our knowledge and permit adequate protecti on against fatal pulmonary embolism in most if not all medical and sur gical patients.