Authors: William C Graham David C Flanigan
Publish Date: 2013/11/05
Volume: 44, Issue: 3, Pages: 331-343
Abstract
The purpose of this review was to compile existing knowledge regarding venous thromboembolism VTE after arthroscopic knee surgery AKS We reviewed the reported incidence published prophylaxis guidelines randomized controlled trials RCT of prophylaxis and current prophylaxis practice patterns In this context we then considered the most appropriate VTE risk assessment model for patients undergoing knee arthroscopy The existing body of literature regarding VTE and AKS reports a wide range of incidence often utilizing primary outcome measures with unclear clinical significance asymptomatic and distal deep vein thrombosis DVT Published prophylaxis guidelines provide limited practical guidance and it is unclear how to translate the results of RCTs to clinical practice as many of the VTE prevented by routine prophylaxis are asymptomatic or distal DVT Literature regarding actual implementation of pharmacologic prophylaxis following AKS suggests that no consensus exists Patients undergoing knee arthroscopy would be best managed with the individual model of VTE risk assessment rather than the group model that is applied to hip and knee arthroplasty patients
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