VTE refers to blood clots in the veins. It is an underdiagnosed and dangerous yet preventable medical condition that can cause disability and death. VTE includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
Importance of VTE Prevention
1. Blood clots are a leading cause of preventable hospital death
2. VTE is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in general surgical patients
3. Roughly 1 out of 10 hospital deaths are related to blood clots in the lungs
4. About half of all blood clots occur within 3 months of a hospital stay or surgery
5. Nearly half of all hospital patients do not receive proper prevention measures
6. DVT occurs with an incidence of approximately 1 per 1000 annually among adults