Prevention of venous thromboembolism in the plastic surgery patient.
The term venous thromboembolism refers to a spectrum of disease that includes deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are often clinically silent and thus difficult to diagnose, which leads to a substantial delay in treatment that results in high rates of morbidity and mortality. The purposes of this article are to help physicians determine the proper venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and to simplify the complex problem of treating venous thromboembolism. The tools provided in this article will help expedite and clarify the decision-making process.
Division of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA. spd2@gunet.georgetown.edu
Steven Paul
SP
Davison
Mark L
ML
Venturi
Christopher E
CE
Attinger
Stephen B
SB
Baker
Scott L
SL
Spear
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*