A new calculator improves pulmonary embolism (PE) risk assessment after surgery, potentially impacting thrombo-prophylaxis strategies.

• Among nearly 5 million surgeries, 0.35% (17,045) resulted in PE.
• Dynamic reassessment following unplanned readmissions could identify 24,320 patients over the 0.5% treatment threshold, revealing a PE rate of 2.92%.

Surgeons can use this tool to inform extended thromboprophylaxis, reducing missed opportunities for patient care.

• Unplanned-return occurrences were the strongest risk predictor over time.