# Bridging practice and evidence: insights from the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and Saudi Critical Care Society Guidelines on trauma-related VTE

## TL;DR

This paper presents clinical guidelines for preventing blood clots in trauma ICU patients, developed by international experts and tailored for different healthcare settings.

## Contribution

The paper introduces new, evidence-based trauma VTE prophylaxis guidelines with adaptable strategies for diverse clinical contexts.

## Key findings

- The guidelines provide actionable recommendations for timing, agent selection, and mechanical prophylaxis in trauma patients.
- They emphasize adaptability for both high-resource and low-resource settings.
- The guidelines highlight the importance of evidence-based practices and adherence strategies in trauma care.

## Abstract

Trauma-related venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents significant challenges in clinical care for patients with critical illnesses, highlighting the need for evidence-based recommendations. The Saudi Critical Care Society (SCCS), in collaboration with international experts, developed the “VTE Prophylaxis in Trauma Intensive Care Unit Patients” clinical practice guidelines. The guidelines were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology and provide consensus-based, actionable recommendations tailored to diverse clinical contexts. This article highlights key aspects of the guidelines, emphasizing practical implementation strategies for trauma VTE prophylaxis management.

The trauma VTE prophylaxis guidelines, endorsed by the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI), focus on the timing of initiation, agent selection, and mechanical prophylaxis strategies for patients with trauma. The guidelines address unique challenges and knowledge gaps, providing adaptable strategies for clinicians in high-resource and resource-constrained settings.

Here, we highlight key aspects of the guidelines, the importance of evidence-based practices, adherence strategies, the need for adaptability in special populations and low-resource settings, and future research priorities in trauma and critical care.