Preventing thrombo-embolism in cancer patients – who should we target?

22nd December 2018, Dr Chee L Khoo

Patients with active cancers are at an increased risk of DVTs and pulmonary embolism. Some patients are at higher risk than others. Thromboembolic prophylaxis could reduce that risk but is not routinely recommended in practice guidelines because the absolute risk is modest and of course, there are potential major bleeding risk. With the introduction of the new oral anti-coagulants (NOACs), the equation might be different.…