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Thromboembolism in Orthopedic Surgery: Scope of the Problem

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Thromboembolism in Orthopedic Surgery

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Abstract

Major surgery or traumas of the lower extremities trigger the coagulation cascade, and the physiologic equilibrium between factors promoting and retarding coagulation is disturbed resulting in a hypercoagulable state. In these patients, a reduced venous flow and impaired endothelial function further increase the risk of developing deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is estimated to contribute to half of all perioperative mortality after major orthopedic surgery in unprotected patients, and deep-vein thrombosis is the main source of pulmonary emboli.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, SU/Molndal, SE-43180, Molndal, Sweden

    Bengt I. Eriksson M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Orthopaedic Department, Surgical Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Molndal, Sweden

    Bengt I. Eriksson M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Department of Medical Science, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Centre of Medical Science, Education and Innovation, Brumunddal, Norway

    Ola E. Dahl M.D., DocMedsci

  4. Thrombosis Research Institute, Chelsea, London, UK

    Ola E. Dahl M.D., DocMedsci

Authors
  1. Bengt I. Eriksson M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Ola E. Dahl M.D., DocMedsci
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bengt I. Eriksson M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Anaesthesiology and Critic, University Hospital of Valencia, Valencia, 46010, Spain

    Juan V. Llau

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Eriksson, B.I., Dahl, O.E. (2013). Thromboembolism in Orthopedic Surgery: Scope of the Problem. In: Llau, J. (eds) Thromboembolism in Orthopedic Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4336-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4336-9_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4335-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4336-9

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