Evaluating the effectiveness of a deep-vein thrombosis prophylaxis protocol in orthopaedics and traumatology.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of the deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis protocol for adult patients in a general orthopaedics and traumatology clinic.


METHODS
We followed the DVT prophylaxis protocol in 1326 (776 female, 550 male) of 2114 adult patients admitted to the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Goztepe Research and Training Hospital. They were followed for symptomatic DVT and possible complications of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) therapy. A Doppler ultrasonography (US) was performed when DVT was suspected. The medical information treatment protocols of DVT patients were recorded.


RESULTS
Doppler US was performed in 58 patients with suspected DVT. Six of these patients were diagnosed with DVT. The side effects of LMWH were upper gastrointestinal bleeding (0.5%), widespread ecchymosis of the extremities (1.9%) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (0.16%).


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic DVT occurrences were similar to those in medical literature; however, there were fewer side effects of LMWH than reported in literature.
Unay
Koray
K
Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department, Goztepe Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. kunay69@yahoo.com
Akan
Kaya
K
Sener
Nadir
N
Cakir
Mustafa
M
Poyanli
Oguz
O
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009985:Orthopedics; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight