In terms of VTE prevention, the guidelines recommend using LMWH preferentially over UH, except in patients at risk for rebleeding. The clinician should be aware of the treatment considerations for secondary prevention, noting the primary role of aspirin therapy in ischemic stroke with consideration of other agents (i.e. clopidogrel) in select populations.
Drs. Barr and Schumacher are hospitalists and assistant professors in the division of hospital medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus.
References
Available at the-hospitalist.org.