Bridging practice and evidence: insights from the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and Saudi Critical Care Society Guidelines on trauma-related VTE

Background: Trauma-related venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents significant challenges in clinical care for patients with critical illnesses, highlighting the need for evidence-based recommendations. The Saudi Critical Care Society (SCCS), in collaboration with international experts, developed the “VTE Prophylaxis in Trauma Intensive Care Unit Patients” clinical practice guidelines. The guidelines were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology and provide consensus-based, actionable recommendations tailored to diverse clinical contexts. This article highlights key aspects of the guidelines, emphasizing practical implementation strategies for trauma VTE prophylaxis management. Main body: The trauma VTE prophylaxis guidelines, endorsed by the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI), focus on the timing of initiation, agent selection, and mechanical prophylaxis strategies for patients with trauma. The guidelines address unique challenges and knowledge gaps, providing adaptable strategies for clinicians in high-resource and resource-constrained settings. Conclusion: Here, we highlight key aspects of the guidelines, the importance of evidence-based practices, adherence strategies, the need for adaptability in special populations and low-resource settings, and future research priorities in trauma and critical care.