Thromboembolic disease in hip replacement surgery.

Total hip replacement surgery carries the risk of thromboembolic complications, which could be fatal. Over the last three decades however, the risk has decreased considerably thanks to progress made in the understanding of the physiopathogenetic mechanism of thromboembolic disease and perioperative prophylaxis. It is the purpose of this study to discuss the main medical and surgical preventive measures that must be carried out before, during and immediately after surgery. The old concept of deciding thromboembolic prophylaxis after surgery is now obsolete.