Physical thromboprophylaxis to prevent deep vein thrombosis of the legs was first introduced in the 1970s and 80s and is still in use. But the question “Is compression therapy for thromboprophylaxis still worthwhile today?“ provokes great controversy in the literature. The current German S3 guideline goes so far as to say “Put explicitly, not using thromboembolic deterrent stockings (TEDs) in the vast majority of cases lies completely within the scope of the recommendations in this guideline.“ However, the “vast majority of cases” does not mean that it is always right not to use TEDs. The general consensus in the guidelines is the use of compression as a physical means of thromboprophylaxis in patients at high risk of bleeding or with active bleeding, irrespective of whether it consists of TEDs or intermittent pneumatic compression therapy. The decision to use compression in the individual case ultimately rests with the doctor. Physical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis still has a place in surgery during the perioperative period when regular pharmacological anticoagulation to prevent VTE has to be interrupted....
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