Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis

The term venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been coined to refer to the collective diseases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Each year, an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 deaths are attributed to PE. Although the incidence appears to be lower in plastic surgery, with little published in the literature, it is a subject of great concern to specialty surgeons who operate on a purely elective aesthetic basis. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the prevention of VTE in plastic surgery. This is evident in the numerous articles being published to educate physicians on this very preventable disease. This article is a part of that mission, embarking on identifying risk factors and establishing prophylaxis guidelines. At the end of this article, readers should have an understanding of the pathophysiology, incidence, and risk factors associated with VTE as well as the current prophylactic recommendations that should be considered in the aesthetic patient.