Venous thromboembolism, which includes venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is the commonest cause of in-hospital morbidity and mortality. The management of patients with venous thromboembolism has greately improved in the last 20 years, due to the results of well designed clinical trials. This review summarises the more recent advances on the pathogenesis of diagnosis, prophilaxis and therapy of venous thromboembolism.