Venous thromboembolism - reducing the risk

This guidance is about the care and treatment of people who are at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) while in hospital in the NHS in England and Wales. The advice in the NICE guideline covers the care and treatment that should be offered to: all adults (aged 18 and over) who are adm ...

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This guidance is about the care and treatment of people who are at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) while in hospital in the NHS in England and Wales.

The advice in the NICE guideline covers the care and treatment that should be offered to:

• all adults (aged 18 and over) who are admitted to hospital as inpatients (including those admitted for day-case procedures).

It does not cover the care and treatment that should be offered to:

• people under the age of 18
• people attending hospital as outpatients
• people attending emergency departments who are not admitted to hospital
• older people who are cared for at home or in residential care homes
• people who are immobile and are cared for at home or in residential care homes
• people who are admitted to hospital because they have a diagnosis or signs and symptoms of DVT or pulmonary embolism.

This is an update of advice on ‘Reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism in inpatients undergoing surgery’ that NICE produced in April 2007, and replaces it.

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