Prevention of thrombosis with warfarin, aspirin, and mechanical methods

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious disorder and a major cause of morbidity and mortality among acutely ill medical patients. However, despite the growing number of patients with acute medical illnesses who have an associated risk of VTE, the widespread use of WE prophylaxis does not yet occur for both surgical and nonsurgical patients. Although individuals at greatest risk for WE include patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery and those with medical conditions that require prolonged immobilization, all patients who have acute medical illnesses should be considered for WE prophylaxis. Several strategies, including various mechanical and pharmacologic approaches, are currently used for WE prophylaxis. Increased awareness about the full range of options for WE prophylaxis can help health care providers select the appropriate course of action to help reduce the incidence of WE among patients with acute medical illnesses.