Preventing Venous Thromboembolism After Surgery

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the number one cause of potentially preventable death in hospitalized patients. Venous thromboembolism is a serious and preventable condition in patients who have undergone recent surgery. There are 2 forms of VTE: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Deep vein thromboses occur when a blood clot forms in the deep veins, most commonly in the arms or legs. Pulmonary embolisms occur when a DVT breaks off and becomes lodged in the lungs. Venous thromboembolism accounts for 100 000 patient deaths per year.