Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in the critically ill: a point prevalence survey of current practice in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units.
BACKGROUND
Critically ill patients are at high risk of morbidity and mortality caused by venous thromboembolism (VTE). In addition to premorbid predisposing conditions, critically ill patients may be exposed to prolonged immobility, invasive intravascular catheters and frequent operative procedures, and further may have contraindications to pharmaceutical prophylactic measures designed to attenuate VTE risk. There are limited data describing current VTE prophylaxis regimens in Australia and New Zealand.


OBJECTIVE
To document current Australian and New Zealand management of VTE prophylaxis in a large mixed cohort of critically ill patients.


METHODS
Prospective, multicentre point prevalence survey endorsed by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group (ANZICS CTG).


METHODS
30 public hospital ICUs in Australia and New Zealand surveyed on Wednesday 9 May 2007.


METHODS
For all patients in each ICU on the study day, demographic data, admission diagnosis and information on VTE prophylaxis were prospectively collected.


RESULTS
502 patients were included in the survey, and 431 of these (86%) received VTE prophylaxis. Of these, 64% (276/431) received pharmacological prophylaxis and 80% (345/431) received mechanical prophylaxis, with 44% (190/431) receiving both. Of those receiving pharmacological prophylaxis, unfractionated heparin was used in 74%, and enoxaparin (low molecular weight heparin) in 23%. Contraindications to pharmacological prophylaxis were reported in 122 patients. Overall, pharmacological prophylaxis was administered to 87% of potentially suitable patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a high prevalence of VTE prophylaxis, with many critically ill patients receiving two or more modalities of prophylaxis. These results show that the potential risk of VTE in critically ill patients is recognised in Australia and New Zealand, and strategies to mitigate this serious complication are widely implemented.
Robertson
Megan S
MS
Epworth Healthcare, Melbourne, VIC.
Nichol
Alistair D
AD
Higgins
Alisa M
AM
Bailey
Michael J
MJ
Presneill
Jeffrey J
JJ
Cooper
D James
DJ
Webb
Steven A
SA
McArthur
Colin
C
MacIsaac
Christopher M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016638:Critical Illness; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin