Prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the geriatric patient undergoing surgery.

The difficulty surrounding guidelines for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) stems from the willingness to accept some degree of DVT in the calf, with the resultant lower risk of fatal PE, versus the risk of bleeding from a more effective prophylaxis that prevents DVT. This article reviews the etiology, risk factors, methods of prophylaxis, incidence of DVT/PE in various surgeries, and guidelines for DVT/PE prophylaxis.