Caprini score for surgical VTE risk
Venous thromboembolism risk in surgical patients.
Inputs
CompleteAge
Type of surgery
BMI above 25
Swollen legs (current)
Varicose veins
Pregnant or postpartum, or estrogen therapy or oral contraceptives
Sepsis, pneumonia, or serious lung disease (within 1 month), or abnormal pulmonary function
Acute MI or heart failure (within 1 month)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Medical patient currently at bed rest
Malignancy (present or previous)
Confined to bed over 72 hours
Immobilizing plaster cast
Central venous access
History of VTE
Family history of VTE
Thrombophilias (factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210A, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, high homocysteine, HIT, other)
Stroke within 1 month
Hip, pelvis, or leg fracture
Acute spinal cord injury (paralysis) within 1 month
Worked calculation
Your values are highlighted.
- Points
When to use
- General, abdominal-pelvic, and plastic surgery patients.
Pearls and pitfalls
- ACCP: 3–4 moderate risk (pharmacologic or mechanical prophylaxis); 5 or more high risk (pharmacologic plus mechanical if bleeding risk allows).
Why use
The most used surgical VTE model.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Age: 40 or younger | 0 |
| 41–60 | +1 |
| 61–74 | +2 |
| 75 or older | +3 |
| Type of surgery: None or minor | 0 |
| Minor surgery planned | +1 |
| Major (over 45 min), laparoscopic (over 45 min), or arthroscopic | +2 |
| Elective major lower-extremity arthroplasty | +5 |
| BMI above 25 | +1 |
| Swollen legs (current) | +1 |
| Varicose veins | +1 |
| Pregnant or postpartum, or estrogen therapy or oral contraceptives | +1 |
| Sepsis, pneumonia, or serious lung disease (within 1 month), or abnormal pulmonary function | +1 |
| Acute MI or heart failure (within 1 month) | +1 |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | +1 |
| Medical patient currently at bed rest | +1 |
| Malignancy (present or previous) | +2 |
| Confined to bed over 72 hours | +2 |
| Immobilizing plaster cast | +2 |
| Central venous access | +2 |
| History of VTE | +3 |
| Family history of VTE | +3 |
| Thrombophilias (factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210A, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, high homocysteine, HIT, other): None | 0 |
| One | +3 |
| Two | +6 |
| Three or more | +9 |
| Stroke within 1 month | +5 |
| Hip, pelvis, or leg fracture | +5 |
| Acute spinal cord injury (paralysis) within 1 month | +5 |