title: All I want for coagulation.
abstract: Evidence-based medicine underpins modern practice of medicine. This paper describes a fictional consultation between Santa Claus and a doctor regarding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, giving a review of the evidence for DVT prophylaxis in travellers while exposing the difficulty in applying evidence to atypical clinical encounters. Medline and the Cochrane Library were searched, and guidelines reviewed. Keywords used were DVT, thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis and air travel-related venous thromboembolism. All relevant studies found, have been included in this review, with additional studies identified from the references in these articles. In conclusion, compression stockings, with or without a one-off dose of either aspirin or heparin, are the most evidence-based approaches for prophylaxis in someone with established risk factors for DVT prior to a long-haul flight. Simple exercises should also be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine,  University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland,  UK.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bridgett
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000401:Aircraft; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D014195:Travel; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin