Pulmonary embolism remains a major cause of death in high-risk medical and surgical patients. This is unfor tunate as effective measures for prevention of venous throm boembolism in such patients are now available. Based on Level 1 evidence from clincial trials and systematic reviews, recom mendations can be made for the prevention of venous throm boembolism in most situations. If such information is not avail able, recommendations based on extrapolation from similar risk situations or from consensus opinions must be used. Additional clinical trials are required to fill in such gaps in our knowledge and permit adequate protection against fatal pulmonary embo lism in most if not all medical and surgical patients. Key Words: Heparin—Low molecular weight heparin—Oral anti coagulants—Intermittent pneumatic compression—Graduated compression stockings—Deep vein thrombosis—Pulmonary embolism.
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