title: Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in Irish hospitals.
abstract: This study was undertaken to survey the current practice for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in Irish hospitals. A questionnaire was completed by 293 Irish consultant hospital doctors for the period October 1991 to December 1992 regarding their policy for VTE prophylaxis. Of the doctors surveyed, 36.85% are physicians, 27.3% are surgeons, 20.1% obstetricians and gynaecologists and 15.7% anaesthetists. 94% of physicians initiated DVT prophylaxis in their 'at risk' patients. 94% of the surgeons and 92% of the obstetricians/gynaecologists had used VTE prophylaxis and usage in both groups was more common in high risk patients. Anaesthetists reported VTE prophylaxis being used in an average of 20% of operations. Physicians considered the most important risk factors to be immobility, the period post myocardial infarction and a history of previous DVT. Other factors considered important by surgeons included advancing patient age and malignancy while obstetricians thought obesity to be a major risk factor. The most favoured prophylactic measures used by all doctors surveyed were subcutaneous heparin and elastic (TED) stockings.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Haematology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000776:Anesthesiology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001458:Bandages; D005194:Family Practice; D013502:General Surgery; D005853:Geriatrics; D006176:Gynecology; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects; D007494:Ireland; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009774:Obstetrics; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin