Postsurgical Home Use Of Limb Compression Devices For Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis

Antithrombotic prophylaxis is recommended for surgical patients at moderate-to-high risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), based on the surgical procedure and/or patient characteristics. For some types of surgery (eg, major orthopedic surgery), there is a particularly high risk of VTE due to the nature of the procedure and the prolonged immobility during and after surgery. Common patient risk factors include increasing age, prior VTE, malignancy, pregnancy, and significant comorbidities. Increased risk of bleeding is a contraindication to anticoagulation, as are adverse events and allergic reactions. Limb compression devices have been used as an adjunct or alternative to anticoagulation in the home setting for patients in the postoperative period as a method to reduce VTEs.