🧷 VTE Prophylaxis Decision — Surgical Inpatients (Caprini Score)
Stratify venous thromboembolism risk in surgical inpatients with the Caprini Risk Assessment Model and get a prophylaxis recommendation. Instant, browser-side.
VTE Prophylaxis Decision — Surgical Inpatients (Caprini Score)
Age
Surgery
BMI > 25 (obesity)
Swollen legs (current)
Varicose veins
Pregnancy or postpartum (< 1 month)
Recurrent miscarriage / unexplained stillbirth history
Oral contraceptive or HRT
Sepsis (< 1 month)
Serious lung disease / pneumonia (< 1 month)
Abnormal pulmonary function (COPD)
Acute myocardial infarction
Congestive heart failure (< 1 month)
History of inflammatory bowel disease
Medical patient on bed rest
Malignancy (past or present)
Confined to bed > 72 hours
Immobilising plaster cast (< 1 month)
Central venous access
History of VTE
Family history of VTE
Factor V Leiden mutation
Prothrombin G20210A mutation
Lupus anticoagulant
Anticardiolipin antibodies
Elevated serum homocysteine
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Other congenital / acquired thrombophilia
Stroke (< 1 month)
Elective lower-extremity arthroplasty
Hip, pelvis or leg fracture (< 1 month)
Acute spinal cord injury (< 1 month)
Multiple trauma (< 1 month)
When to use
Decide on VTE prophylaxis for a surgical inpatient by summing weighted risk factors.
How it works
Caprini sums 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-point risk factors (age band, surgery type, comorbidities, thrombophilia, recent stroke/fracture/spinal-cord injury). Bands: very low 0, low 1–2, moderate 3–4, high ≥ 5.
Key points
- High risk (≥ 5) → pharmacological prophylaxis (e.g. LMWH) plus mechanical prophylaxis.
- Moderate risk (3–4) → pharmacological or mechanical prophylaxis after weighing bleeding risk.
- A single major factor (malignancy, major orthopaedic surgery, hip/leg fracture) can reach the high-risk band.
- Assess bleeding risk and anticoagulation contraindications before pharmacological prophylaxis; cut-offs vary slightly between guideline versions.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.