The long awaited newest Chest Guidelines (some are calling it AT9), are finally out, all 800 pages of it. It’s actually down from the 900+ pages from the last version. So how do you go about getting a handle on it? Read the executive summary. It’s a 40 page document that describes the change in review and recommendation methodology, and it also lists every recommendation in the guideline.
The guidelines that are shaded in gray are the ones that changed since the 8th Edition. There are some new sections this year, including one on patient preference and communication. The Chest editors changed their review process in an effort to increase transparency and reduce potential bias.
Chest will allow you to read the full executive summary online, but you can only download the full document if you have a subscription.
I think the changes reflected in this version highlight a general tone in the health care industry: the need to increased transparency and patient communication.
Clinical features highlighted on their website include: a focus on patient risk stratification, aspirin as a potential option for DVT/VTE prevention in select patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery, Expanded discussion and recommendations related to perioperative management of VTE, and an article devoted to diagnosis division of prevention into three major areas: medical patients, orthopedic surgery patients, and other surgical patients.