UMMS Affiliation
Center for Outcomes Research
Date
7-21-2010
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Utilization; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Forms and Records Control; Guideline Adherence; Health Care Surveys; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Mexico; Middle Aged; Organizational Policy; Postoperative Complications; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pulmonary Embolism; Risk; Risk Assessment; Venous Thromboembolism; Young Adult
Disciplines
Health Services Research
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is well known that a significant proportion of hospitalized medical and surgical patients with risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are not receiving thromboprophylaxis. We designed this study to evaluate the proportion of at-risk patients and the proportion of those receiving recommended prophylaxis.
METHODS: We conducted a multicentric cross-sectional survey that included medical and surgical patients from 43 hospitals throughout Mexico. Patients who were at risk for DVT according to the ACCP 2004 guidelines were included and evaluated for thromboprophylaxis.
RESULTS: Overall, 625 patients were at risk: 308 (49%) surgical patients and 317 (51%) medical patients. There were 179 (58%) surgical patients receiving recommended prophylaxis, whereas medical patients represented 117 (37%) patients.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant proportion of hospitalized medical and surgical patients at risk for DVT. There is also a significant underutilization of recommended thromboprophylaxis among these patients.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Cir Cir. 2010 Jul-Aug;78(4):328-35. Link to publisher's website