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Venous Thromboembolism in Multiple Trauma Patients
Author(s) -
Erstad Brian L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1998.tb03931.x
Subject(s) - medicine , heparin , concomitant , venous thromboembolism , anticoagulant , thrombosis , anticoagulant therapy , venous thrombosis , low molecular weight heparin , intensive care medicine , surgery
Thromboembolic complications are frequent in patients with multiple trauma. The efficacy of unfractionated heparin for venous thrombosis prophylaxis has not been established. Based on limited prospective data, low‐molecular‐weight heparin appears to be more effective than unfractionated heparin and at least as effective as compression devices for preventing thromboembolic complications in these patients. Vena cava filters should be considered in high‐risk patients who cannot receive anticoagulant therapy, but long‐term filter use without concomitant anticoagulant therapy is associated with a substantial risk of recurrent thromboembolism.