Caprini Score Calculator for Thromboembolic Risk in Surgical Patients
The Caprini Score is the most widely used and best validated risk assessment tool for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in surgical patients. It combines about 40 risk factors — age, type of surgery, comorbidities, immobility, hormonal factors and personal or family history of thrombosis — into a single score that places the patient into a risk stratum and guides the prophylaxis decision.
The calculator below applies the original 2005 model, stratified as in the ACCP/AT9 guideline (Gould et al., Chest 2012).
How to use the calculator
- Fill in the patient data — name, record number and age. Age is the only required field: it selects the age band and scores automatically.
- Tick the risk factors that apply to the patient. The score updates live, so you do not need to calculate anything while filling in the form.
- Click “Calculate score” to see the result, the risk stratum and the recommended management, plus the bleeding-risk branch when it applies.
The result can be exported as a .txt file and pasted straight into the electronic medical record, or printed as a one-page record sheet.
No patient data is stored. The calculator runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a database, and the information is lost as soon as you leave the page.
Caprini Score Calculator
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment in surgical patients
Recommended management
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With high bleeding risk
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References and usage notes
- Caprini JA. Thrombosis risk assessment as a guide to quality patient care. Dis Mon. 2005 Feb–Mar;51(2–3):70–8. PMID 15900257. — 2005 model implemented in this calculator.
- Gould MK, Garcia DA, Wren SM, Karanicolas PJ, Arcelus JI, Heit JA, Samama CM. Prevention of venous thromboembolism in nonorthopedic surgical patients: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest. 2012;141(2 Suppl):e227S–e277S. doi:10.1378/chest.11-2297. — Stratification bands, VTE incidences and prophylaxis recommendations, with their respective grades of recommendation.
- Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV). Protocolo de prevenção do tromboembolismo venoso. — The 6-step rule: stratify, check bleeding risk, prescribe, reassess every 48–72 h.
- Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV). Avaliação do risco de sangramento na profilaxia do tromboembolismo venoso. J Vasc Bras. — Absolute contraindications and factors associated with increased bleeding risk.
- Caprini JA. Individual risk assessment is the best strategy for thromboembolic prophylaxis. Dis Mon. 2010 Oct;56(10):552–9. PMID 20971324. — Later revision of the model, with reweighting of factors. Not applied here.
Why 0 · 1–2 · 3–4 · ≥ 5. The displayed stratum follows Caprini 2005 as stratified by ACCP/AT9 (Gould et al., Chest 2012) and by the Brazilian protocols (SBACV, HC-UFMG, Unimed, Hcor). Some references further refine the top of the scale, classifying > 8 points as very high risk (6.5% to 18.3% VTE); that band appears on the scale above, but it does not change management — pharmacological and mechanical in both cases.
On the 5–8 stratum. The ACCP guideline sets no further cut-off between 5 and 8 points. Values of 5 to 6 and 7 to 8 appear in the general surgery literature with reported incidences of around 1.8% and 4.0% respectively; the scale keeps the single ACCP reading.
A support tool, not a prescription. The score estimates the probability of a thromboembolic event and does not replace clinical judgement. Final management depends on bleeding risk, contraindications, the type of surgery and the institution’s protocol.
Step 1 of 5
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Other risk scores
- Caprini for varicose vein surgery — a specific variant of the model for venous surgery.
- Padua for clinical patients — the counterpart score for medical (non-surgical) patients, used when the surgical model does not apply.
Clinical note
The Caprini 2005 model assigns 5 points to elective lower-limb arthroplasty and does not discriminate well within that population; the very high risk stratum (≥ 9) is likewise a refinement added by later references rather than part of the original 2005 cut-offs. Neither case changes the calculator's scoring. Read the result alongside the bleeding risk, the contraindications, the type of surgery and your own institutional protocol.
This is a support tool, not a prescription. The score estimates the probability of a thromboembolic event and does not replace clinical judgement.
Dúvida sobre o seu caso?
Nossa equipe de angiologia e cirurgia vascular avalia cada paciente individualmente.