[Thrombosis prophylaxis in trauma surgery units in Germany: a survey].
BACKGROUND
A questionnaire study was conducted to ask trauma surgery centers about thrombosis prophylaxis methods and strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).


METHODS
Questionnaires were sent by post to German hospitals with trauma surgery units inquiring about the use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), the duration of medication, and the HIT diagnosis. Questionnaires were evaluated descriptively.


RESULTS
314 of 685 questionnaires sent out were evaluable (46%): half were from general hospitals, 96 (31%) from specialized hospitals, and 53 (17%) from tertiary care hospitals (others: 8). In more than 90%, only LMWH was used. The mean duration of pharmacological thrombosis prophylaxis was 16.6+/-10.4 days (inpatient/outpatient). Only 10% adhered to the recommended platelet count controls every 2 days (days 5-14) for early detection of HIT.


CONCLUSIONS
While pharmacological thrombosis prophylaxis following trauma surgery seems to be generally performed according to guidelines, diagnosis and treatment of HIT need to be systematized.
Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Klinikum der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität, Greifswald, Deutschland. phinz@uni-greifswald.de
P
P
Hinz
N
N
Lubenow
A
A
Wessel
A
A
Greinacher
A
A
Ekkernkamp
D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*
D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D006493:Heparin