Hematology

Caprini Score for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Surgical Prophylaxis

Calculates the comprehensive Caprini VTE score to guide perioperative mechanical and pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis.

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Parameters

Age 41 to 60 Years (+1 pt)

Minor Surgery Planned (< 45 minutes / +1 pt)

Overweight / Obese (BMI > 25 kg/m² / +1 pt)

Varicose Veins or Lower Extremity Swelling (+1 pt)

Pregnancy or Postpartum (< 1 month / +1 pt)

Oral Contraceptive Pill, Estrogen HRT, or SERM (+1 pt)

Sepsis (< 1 mo) or Severe COPD / Pneumonia (+1 pt)

Medical Inpatient Currently Confined to Bed (+1 pt)

Age 61 to 74 Years (+2 pts)

Major Open Surgery Planned (> 45 minutes / +2 pts)

Laparoscopic or Arthroscopic Surgery > 45 minutes (+2 pts)

Active Cancer / Malignancy (Past or Present / +2 pts)

Central Venous Access (CVC / PICC line / +2 pts)

Immobilizing Plaster Cast or Rigid Splint (< 1 mo / +2 pts)

Patient Bedbound / Confined > 72 Hours (+2 pts)

Age ≥ 75 Years (+3 pts)

Personal History of Prior DVT or Pulmonary Embolism (+3 pts)

Family History of Unprovoked VTE in 1st-Degree Relative (+3 pts)

Known Thrombophilia (Factor V Leiden, Antiphospholipid, Lupus AC, HIT / +3 pts)

Elective Total Hip or Total Knee Arthroplasty (+5 pts)

Hip, Pelvis, or Long-Bone Leg Fracture (< 1 mo / +5 pts)

Acute Stroke or Spinal Cord Injury with Leg Paralysis (< 1 mo / +5 pts)

Multiple Major Trauma (< 1 month / +5 pts)

Caprini Score for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Surgical Prophylaxis Result

Formula

Caprini Score = Sum of 24 weighted clinical risk points (1, 2, 3, or 5 points each)
0: Lowest (<0.5%) | 1–2: Low (~1.5%) | 3–4: Moderate (~3%) | ≥5: High/Highest (6–11+%)

Clinical Pearls

Gold standard global risk assessment model reducing hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis and fatal pulmonary emboli across general, gynecologic, urologic, and orthopedic surgeries.

Limitations

If the patient is actively bleeding or has severe coagulopathy / intracranial hemorrhage, withhold pharmacologic chemoprophylaxis and use IPC mechanical prophylaxis exclusively.