ABSTRACT
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common and potentially lethal complication of trauma and surgery. VTE includes two main clinical conditions: deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). This chapter summarizes current knowledge about the incidence, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of these complications. DVT is a serious complication of surgery and trauma, with an annual incidence of 350,000 cases per year and 100,000 deaths due to VTE each year. Physical examination is unreliable for the diagnosis of DVT, and furthermore, many DVT are asymptomatic. Contrast venography has traditionally been considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of DVT. The appearance of a constant intraluminal-filling defect on two or more venographic views is diagnostic. Appropriate VTE thromboprophylaxis is critical to prevent DVT and PE complications. There are several pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis agents, which can be utilized to decrease VTE rates while minimizing adverse events such as bleeding.
