🧷 Surgical-Inpatient VTE Risk (Caprini Score)
UsePerioperative VTE risk stratification for surgical inpatients.
StrataThe Caprini score stratifies VTE risk in surgical inpatients (ACCP 2012: 0 very low, 1–2 low, 3–4 moderate, ≥…
LimitsFor surgical inpatients; use Padua for medical patients. · Cut-offs vary slightly between versions (2005/2010/2013). · For licensed clinicians; does not replace clinical judgement.
SourceGould MK, et al. Prevention of VTE in nonorthopedic surgical patients: Antithrombotic Therapy and P…
This-shift next steps
After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.
- Who it is for
- Adult medical inpatients who need a VTE risk assessment. Suspected DVT follows the diagnostic path only; this page does not make prophylaxis decisions.
- Who it is not for
- Treatment duration for confirmed VTE is not this prophylaxis card. Acute PE is not handled on the prophylaxis card.
- Formula and variables
- Padua is the entry for medical VTE risk assessment. IMPROVE bleed assesses bleeding risk. Caprini is the surgical entry. IMPROVE VTE does not replace Padua. Wells DVT serves only the diagnostic path. Thresholds stay as on this page. The formula is not changed.
- Result → next step
- Next for prevention is the medical VTE risk page: whether and how to give prophylaxis follows current guidelines and local protocol, with bleeding risk assessed. Next for diagnosis is the DVT pathway, which does not involve prophylaxis decisions. This page gives no medication or dose information.No numeric dose until age, weight, renal function, and pregnancy are all known. Pregnancy is contraindication or caution only.
- Guideline
- China PTE guideline 2018
Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.
Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Caprini bands: very low 0, low 1–2, moderate 3–4, high ≥5 (ACCP 2012).
When to use
Perioperative VTE risk stratification for surgical inpatients.
How it works
Caprini sums 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-point risk factors (age band, surgery type, comorbidities, thrombophilia, recent stroke/fracture/spinal-cord injury). Bands: very low 0, low 1–2, moderate 3–4, high ≥ 5.
Key points
- Caprini bands: very low 0, low 1–2, moderate 3–4, high ≥5 (ACCP 2012).
- Whether and how to give prophylaxis follows current guidelines and local protocol.
- Assess bleeding risk at the same time.
References
- [Guideline / primary source]Gould MK, et al. Prevention of VTE in nonorthopedic surgical patients: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed (ACCP). Chest 2012;141:e227S-e277S. PMID 22315263
- [Guideline / primary source]Anderson DR, et al. American Society of Hematology 2019 guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: prevention of VTE in surgical hospitalized patients. Blood Adv 2019;3:3898-3944. PMID 31794602
- Caprini JA. Thrombosis risk assessment as a guide to quality patient care. Dis Mon 2005;51:70-8. PMID 15900257
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Age | 41–60 yr |
|---|---|
| Surgery | Minor (anaesthesia < 45 min) |
| BMI > 25 (obesity) | Yes |
| Swollen legs (current) | Yes |
| Varicose veins | Yes |
| Pregnancy or postpartum (< 1 month) | Yes |
| Recurrent miscarriage / unexplained stillbirth history | Yes |
| Oral contraceptive or HRT | Yes |
| Sepsis (< 1 month) | Yes |
| Serious lung disease / pneumonia (< 1 month) | Yes |
| Abnormal pulmonary function (COPD) | Yes |
| Acute myocardial infarction | Yes |
| Congestive heart failure (< 1 month) | Yes |
| History of inflammatory bowel disease | Yes |
| Medical patient on bed rest | Yes |
| Malignancy (past or present) | Yes |
| Confined to bed > 72 hours | Yes |
| Immobilising plaster cast (< 1 month) | Yes |
| Central venous access | Yes |
| History of VTE | Yes |
| Family history of VTE | Yes |
| Factor V Leiden mutation | Yes |
| Prothrombin G20210A mutation | Yes |
| Lupus anticoagulant | Positive |
| Anticardiolipin antibodies | Positive |
| Elevated serum homocysteine | Yes |
| Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) | Yes |
| Other congenital / acquired thrombophilia | Yes |
| Stroke (< 1 month) | Yes |
| Elective lower-extremity arthroplasty | Yes |
| Hip, pelvis or leg fracture (< 1 month) | Yes |
| Acute spinal cord injury (< 1 month) | Yes |
| Multiple trauma (< 1 month) | Yes |
→VTE riskHigh
- Caprini score：75 points
- Risk level：High (very low 0 / low 1–2 / moderate 3–4 / high ≥5, ACCP 2012)
- Basis：Caprini RAM; ACCP 2012; ASH 2019
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Does Surgical-Inpatient VTE Risk (Caprini Score) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
- Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
- How is Surgical-Inpatient VTE Risk (Caprini Score) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Age 41–60 yr, Surgery Minor (anaesthesia < 45 min), BMI > 25 (obesity) Yes, Swollen legs (current) Yes, Varicose veins Yes, Pregnancy or postpartum (< 1 month) Yes, Recurrent miscarriage / unexplained stillbirth history Yes, Oral contraceptive or HRT Yes… → Result: VTE risk High（Caprini score: 75 points, Risk level: High (very low 0 / low 1–2 / moderate 3–4 / high ≥5, ACCP 2012), Basis: Caprini RAM; ACCP 2012; ASH 2019）