Table 4. VTE prophylaxis in non-surgical and outpatient care^*.

	Pharmacological prophylaxis	Mechanical prophylaxis	Special considerations
Acute medical disease with bed confinement status	LMWH/fondaparinux ↑ ↑	↔	Duration 6–14 days
Malignant disease (in-patient)	LMWH/fondaparinux ↑ ↑	↔	Duration: total in-patient hospital stay
Ischemic stroke with leg paresis	LMWH/UFH ↑ ↑	IPC > CS ↑	IPC > CS: if contraindication for pharmacological prophylaxis
Hemorrhagic stroke with leg paresis	UFH, LMWH ↑	IPC > CS ↑	IPC > CS: if contraindication for pharmacological prophylaxis UFH; LMWH: when there is no longer an acute bleeding risk
Intensive care	LMWH > UFH s.c. ↑ ↑	IPC > CS ↑	IPC > CS: if contraindication for pharmacological prophylaxis LMWH > UFH s.c.: Warning: bleeding, kidney failure, uncertain absorption
Pediatrics, neonatology	Only in exceptional cases	individual decision	If VTE risk suspected: consultation with pediatric hemostaseologist (addresses for Germany available at: www.gth-online.org)
Obstetrics	Only with additional risk factors LMWH, UFH ↑ ↑	CS ↔	Special risk factors in pregnancy and puerperium
Outpatient care	For duration of prophylaxis after discharge from hospital see specific recommendations in the text. Always: assessment of the individual, expositional and dispositional VTE risk

^*Basic measures, if possible with all patients.

↑ ↑, strong recommendation; ↑, recommendation; ↔, discretionary recommendation; LMWH, low–molecular-weight heparin; UFH, unfractionated heparin; IPC, intermittent pneumatic compression; CS, compression stockings; s.c., subcutaneous; VTE, venous thromboembolism; >, is superior to