[Preventing venous thromboembolism].

Routine antithrombotic prophylaxis today is consistently a part of surgical treatment. The indication and choice of both physical and medical prophylactic measures depend upon the individual thromboembolic risk profile of the patient. This is determined by expositional (procedure, trauma) and dispositional patient-related risk factors. Clinical thromboembolic risk can be differentiated into three risk categories (low, moderate, high) and determines the risk-adapted kind of prophylaxis. Unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins have proven most effective in long-term medical treatment but are still limited in their use by some side effects. The development of new anticoagulant agents may improve antithrombotic prophylaxis and overcome some disadvantages of antithrombotic drugs used till now.