[Venous thromboembolic disease in general surgery].

About one-fourth of patients undergoing general surgery and not receiving antithrombotic prophylaxis will suffer postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the legs and pulmonary embolism (PE). Apart from fatal PE, which affects 0.8% of general surgical patients, about one-third of patients with DVT will develop long-term complications, such as posthrombotic syndrome and recurrent VTE. The best strategy to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with postoperative VTE, is to use some of the available prophylactic methods which have been shown to be effective and safe for VTE prevention. The most widely investigated and implemented methods in western countries are the pharmacological agents, namely heparin and their low molecular weight fractions, as well as mechanical methods, such as elastic stockings and intermittent pneumatic compression of the legs. Appropriate prophylaxis measures should be implemented according to the characteristics of each patient and the surgical operation to be done.