🦵 Caprini VTE Risk Score (Surgical)
Calculate the Caprini score to stratify venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in surgical inpatients and guide thromboprophylaxis.
Clinical takeaway
Assesses VTE risk only — assess bleeding risk before anticoagulating.
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When to use
Risk-stratify surgical patients to choose mechanical and/or pharmacologic prophylaxis.
How it works
Sum weighted factors: age band (0–3) + 1-point + 2-point + 3-point + 5-point factors. 0 very low, 1–2 low, 3–4 high, ≥ 5 highest.
Key points
- Assesses VTE risk only — assess bleeding risk before anticoagulating.
- Age is a single mutually-exclusive choice.
- Specialty thresholds and prophylaxis choices vary.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Age | < 41 y |
|---|---|
| Number of 1-point factors (minor surgery, BMI > 25, leg edema, varicose veins, sepsis/severe lung disease, OCP/HRT, pregnancy/postpartum, medical bed rest, IBD history, recent MI/CHF, etc.) | 0 items |
| Number of 2-point factors (major surgery > 45 min, laparoscopy > 45 min, arthroscopy, malignancy, bed rest > 72 h, cast immobilization, central venous access) | 0 items |
| Number of 3-point factors (prior VTE, family history of VTE, factor V Leiden/prothrombin 20210A, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, hyperhomocysteinemia, HIT, other thrombophilia) | 0 items |
| Number of 5-point factors (stroke < 1 mo, elective arthroplasty, hip/pelvis/leg fracture, acute spinal cord injury < 1 mo) | 0 items |
→Caprini score0
- Risk category：Very low risk
- Prophylaxis：Early ambulation
| Age | ≥ 75 |
|---|---|
| Number of 1-point factors (minor surgery, BMI > 25, leg edema, varicose veins, sepsis/severe lung disease, OCP/HRT, pregnancy/postpartum, medical bed rest, IBD history, recent MI/CHF, etc.) | 0 items |
| Number of 2-point factors (major surgery > 45 min, laparoscopy > 45 min, arthroscopy, malignancy, bed rest > 72 h, cast immobilization, central venous access) | 0 items |
| Number of 3-point factors (prior VTE, family history of VTE, factor V Leiden/prothrombin 20210A, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, hyperhomocysteinemia, HIT, other thrombophilia) | 0 items |
| Number of 5-point factors (stroke < 1 mo, elective arthroplasty, hip/pelvis/leg fracture, acute spinal cord injury < 1 mo) | 0 items |
→Caprini score3
- Risk category：Moderate risk
- Prophylaxis：Pharmacologic or mechanical prophylaxis
Frequently asked questions
- What is Caprini VTE Risk Score (Surgical)?
- Calculate the Caprini score to stratify venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in surgical inpatients and guide thromboprophylaxis.
- How is Caprini VTE Risk Score (Surgical) calculated? What is the core formula?
- Sum weighted factors: age band (0–3) + 1-point + 2-point + 3-point + 5-point factors. 0 very low, 1–2 low, 3–4 high, ≥ 5 highest.
- When is Caprini VTE Risk Score (Surgical) used?
- Risk-stratify surgical patients to choose mechanical and/or pharmacologic prophylaxis.
- What are the key clinical points for Caprini VTE Risk Score (Surgical)?
- Assesses VTE risk only — assess bleeding risk before anticoagulating. Age is a single mutually-exclusive choice. Specialty thresholds and prophylaxis choices vary.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Caprini VTE Risk Score (Surgical)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Caprini VTE Risk Score (Surgical) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Age < 41 y, Number of 1-point factors (minor surgery, BMI > 25, leg edema, varicose veins, sepsis/severe lung disease, OCP/HRT, pregnancy/postpartum, medical bed rest, IBD history, recent MI/CHF, etc.) 0 items, Number of 2-point factors (major surgery > 45 min, laparoscopy > 45 min, arthroscopy, malignancy, bed rest > 72 h, cast immobilization, central venous access) 0 items, Number of 3-point factors (prior VTE, family history of VTE, factor V Leiden/prothrombin 20210A, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, hyperhomocysteinemia, HIT, other thrombophilia) 0 items, Number of 5-point factors (stroke < 1 mo, elective arthroplasty, hip/pelvis/leg fracture, acute spinal cord injury < 1 mo) 0 items → Result: Caprini score 0（Risk category: Very low risk, Prophylaxis: Early ambulation） Inputs: Age ≥ 75, Number of 1-point factors (minor surgery, BMI > 25, leg edema, varicose veins, sepsis/severe lung disease, OCP/HRT, pregnancy/postpartum, medical bed rest, IBD history, recent MI/CHF, etc.) 0 items, Number of 2-point factors (major surgery > 45 min, laparoscopy > 45 min, arthroscopy, malignancy, bed rest > 72 h, cast immobilization, central venous access) 0 items, Number of 3-point factors (prior VTE, family history of VTE, factor V Leiden/prothrombin 20210A, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, hyperhomocysteinemia, HIT, other thrombophilia) 0 items, Number of 5-point factors (stroke < 1 mo, elective arthroplasty, hip/pelvis/leg fracture, acute spinal cord injury < 1 mo) 0 items → Result: Caprini score 3（Risk category: Moderate risk, Prophylaxis: Pharmacologic or mechanical prophylaxis）