Thromboprophylaxis for intensive care patients in Australia and New Zealand: a brief survey report.
OBJECTIVE
Internationally, there is practice variation concerning optimal thromboprophylaxis for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The current practice in Australia and New Zealand is unknown.


METHODS
We conducted a self-administered e-mail survey of 22 Australian and New Zealand ICUs expressing interest in participating in a proposed international randomized trial (PROphylaxis for ThromboEmbolism in Critical Care Trial).


RESULTS
Our response rate was 95.4% (95% CI, 77%-100%). Of participating ICUs, 90.5% (95% CI, 70%-99%) used subcutaneous unfractionated heparin for routine thromboprophylaxis in ICU patients. Low-molecular-weight heparin was reserved for specific high-risk patients in many units.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine thromboprophylaxis for ICU patients in Australia and New Zealand is similar to Canada but different to France. Optimal thromboprophylaxis for ICU patients is currently unclear in the absence of randomized trial data.
Cooper
D James
DJ
Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia. j.cooper@alfred.org.au
Bishop
Nicole
N
Cade
John
J
Finfer
Simon
S
Gallus
Alex
A
Myburgh
John
J
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009520:New Zealand; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D006493:Heparin