NICE has published clinical guidance (CG 92) on the care and treatment of all adults who are admitted to hospital as inpatients (including those admitted for day-case procedures) and are at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This guidance updates and replaces NICE’s previous guidance on ‘Reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism in inpatients undergoing surgery’ produced in April 2007 (CG 46).

In terms of pharmacological prophylaxis for VTE, NICE recommend the following:

• Offer pharmacological VTE prophylaxis to general medical patients assessed to be at increased risk of VTE. Choose any one of:
− fondaparinux sodium
− low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin, tinzaparin, daltaparin)
− unfractionated heparin for patients with renal failure

• Start pharmacological VTE prophylaxis as soon as possible after risk assessment has been completed.
• Continue until the patient is no longer at increased risk of VTE.

Heart has also published a summary of this guidance. Please see link below.