Rationalising anticoagulants used for VTE prophylaxis in palliative care

Follow the principles of rationalising anticoagulants when rationalising anticoagulants in palliative care.

Continuation of VTE prophylaxis is generally not required in the last weeks of life because the development of DVT is not associated with a change in prognosis or symptoms in patients with short prognosis, and the risk of bleeding from prophylaxis may outweigh the benefitsTardy, 2017White, 2019.

For information on assessment of VTE risk, see Overview of VTE prophylaxis in the Cardiovascular guidelines.