Venous Thromboembolism and Pulmonary Embolism

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.