Deep Venous Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Orthopedic Surgery eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Thrombosis is a naturally occurring physiologic process. Under normal circumstances, a physiologic balance is present between factors that promote and retard coagulation. A disturbance in this equilibrium may result in the coagulation process occurring at an inopportune time or location or in an excessive manor. Alternatively, failure of the normal coagulation mechanisms may lead to hemorrhage.
Synonyms and related keywords: deep vein thrombosis, DVT prophylaxis, pulmonary embolus, pulmonary embolism, PE, venous thromboembolism, VTE, thromboprophylaxis, DVT prevention, PE prevention, VTE prevention, venous stasis, Virchow triad, Virchow's triad, low-dose heparin, LDH, low-molecular weight heparin, LMWH, unfractionated heparin, UFH, intermittent pneumatic compression, IPC, elastic stockings, ES, post-thrombotic syndrome, postthrombotic syndrome, PTS, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, HIT
Robert S Ennis, MD 2005