The insidious hazard of hospitalisation: Venous thromboembolism

• Symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) is estimated to be responsible for 7% of all hospital deaths and more than 15,000 hospitalisations in Australia annually. • Long-term sequelae of VTE often seen in general practice are pernicious, with significant numbers of patients experiencing the post-thrombotic syndrome and many being debilitated with chronic venous ulceration. • In hospital, VTE risk assessment is often not undertaken and only 60% of patients receive appropriate VTE prophylaxis. • Two main types of VTE prophylaxis have been shown to be effective: pharmaceutical agents and mechanical devices. • VTE prophylaxis guidelines are available to assist with VTE risk assessment and to tailor appropriate treatment and duration of treatment to the patient's level of VTE risk. • Knowledge of the current VTE guidelines will help GPs to facilitate community-based VTE prophylaxis and, for those with hospital-admitting rights, to care for their hospitalised patient's.