Venous thromboembolism is a potentially fatal pathology that can complicate the recovery of hospitalized patients. Surgery patients, especially those submitted to major surgical procedures, are particularly at risk. Deep venous thrombosis (DUT) and pulmonary embolism are recognized postoperative complications whose diagnosis is difficult and whose treatment is frequently initiated too late to be effective. Without prophylaxis one in every four over 40-year-old patients who are submitted to general surgery of more than one hour will develop DVT. At-risk patients can be identified and receive prophylaxis - the least onerous method to reduce morbidity and mortality. Thus, the practice of Pharmaceutical care, use in the postoperative period of orthopedic surgery, is a useful tool to avoid the progression of this pathology. Through the identification of suggestive symptoms, it is possible to prevent the aggravation of this disease, facilitating its treatment.
Deep venous thrombosis; pharmaceutical care; low weight heparin
