title: "It's good to talk"--an audit of the communication of post-operative thromboembolic complications.
abstract: The risk of venous thromboembolism after surgery, with its associated morbidity and mortality, is an important component of obtaining informed consent for a surgical procedure. This risk of thromboembolic complications extends beyond the post-operative hospital stay; patients suffering such complications after discharge are generally not re-admitted under the care of the operating surgeon. A retrospective opening loop audit was undertaken to investigate the communication of post-operative thromboembolic complications between specialties in a large district general hospital. The operating surgeon was unaware of 87% of cases of pulmonary embolism and 20% of cases of deep vein thrombosis affecting patients in their post-operative period. The inter-specialty communication of post-operative complications is important to maintain a high standard of patient care and allow surgeons to make informed decisions about clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8DH.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brinsden
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Rawlings
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004739:England; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D015274:Interdepartmental Relations; D008485:Medical Audit; D008511:Medicine; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013038:Specialization; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*