title: Venous thromboembolism: prophylactic and therapeutic practice guideline.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacological prophylactic anticoagulation in many countries, including South Africa, is under-prescribed. This has resulted in unacceptable rates of morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Southern African Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis held a meeting to update the previous guideline and review new literature including guidelines from other societies. The following specialties were represented on the committees: anaesthetics, cardiology, clinical haematology, critical care, obstetrics and gynaecology, haematopathology, internal medicine, neurology, orthopaedic surgery and pulmonology. A draft document was presented at the meeting, which was then revised by consensus agreement. To avoid local bias, the guideline was adjudicated by recognised international external experts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A concise, practical updated guideline for thromboprophylaxis and treatment in medical and surgical patients has been produced for South African conditions. It is hoped that this guideline will continue to improve anticoagulation practice in this country, which we believe will directly benefit patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Büller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mer
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rowji
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schapkaitz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beeton
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wessels
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D000069604:Dabigatran; D019468:Disease Management; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D057915:Drug Substitution / Q000379:methods; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D009025:Morpholines; D013876:Thiophenes; D015091:beta-Alanine; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran