Present state of guidelines for perioperative management of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in Japan

To clarify the present state of local institutional guideline for perioperative deep thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in individual hospitals, a questionnaire was sent to anesthesia departments in Japan. According to the replies, 82 hospitals have original guidelines. Forty of them reported the contents of their guidelines. However, 37 hospitals have some problems regarding their guidelines. Cost for these perioperative managements and application of spinal or epidural anesthesia for heparinized patients appears to be commonly recognized as pending questions in their guideline. It seems to be difficult to make a stereotyped standard guideline in Japan because each local guideline has a specific strategy according to their situations. However, it is needless to say that a further nationwide survey and collaboration, and governmental support for these diseases would be required.