Prophylaxis of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Trauma Patients: A Review

Trauma patients are at high risk for venous thromboembolism. While a variety of risk factors predispose them to deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, the goal of aggressive chemical prophylaxis needs to be balanced against the risk of hemorrhage, making this a most challenging population to adequately prophylax. The use of titration of the prophylaxis to ant factor Xa levels is discussed. Special consideration needs to be taken in some particularly challenging trauma subpopulations, including those with renal failure, nonoperatively managed solid organ injury, traumatic brain injury with intracranial hemorrhage, spinal cord injury and the bariatric trauma patient, which are reviewed.