Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Surgical Patients

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Abstract
DESPITE recent advances in diagnosis, venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism remain major problems in surgical patients. Evidence of previous pulmonary embolism can be found in more than 60 per cent of routine autopsies.1 Pulmonary embolism is a frequent postoperative complication in general surgical, orthopedic and gynecologic patients and is the most common cause of death in the elderly injured.2 Elevations in the concentration of plasma procoagulants, increased fibrinogen levels, thrombocytosis, increased platelet reactivity and defective fibrinolysis are commonly observed after major surgery.3 Augmented by venous stasis engendered by recumbency or immobilization in a chair, these abnormalities seriously predispose to postoperative . . .