The Saudi clinical practice guideline for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in long-distance travelers

• Published in: Saudi medical journal Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 101 - 107
• Main Authors: Al-Hameed, Fahad M, Al-Dorzi, Hasan M, Abdelaal, Mohamed A, Alaklabi, Ali, Bakhsh, Ebtisam, Alomi, Yousef A, Al Baik, Mohammad, Aldahan, Salah, Schünemann, Holger, Brozek, Jan, Wiercioch, Wojtek, Darzi, Andrea J, Waziry, Reem, Akl, Elie A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saudi Arabia Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) 01.01.2017; Saudi Medical Journal
• Subjects: Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Best practice; Clinical Practice Guidelines; Disease prevention; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Saudi Arabia; Thromboembolism; Travel; Travel medicine; Venous Thromboembolism - prevention & control; Walking; Saudi Arabia
• ISSN: 0379-5284; 1658-3175
• DOI: 10.15537/smj.2017.1.15738

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a preventable disease. Long distant travelers are prone to variable degree to develop VTE. However, the low risk of developing VTE among long-distance travelers and which travelers should receive VTE prophylaxis, and what prophylactic measures should be used led us to develop these guidelines. These clinical practice guidelines are the result of an initiative of the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia involving an expert panel led by the Saudi Association for Venous Thrombo Embolism (a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society). The McMaster University Guideline working group provided the methodological support. The expert panel identified 5 common questions related to the thromboprophylaxis in long-distance travelers. The corresponding recommendations were made following the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.