title: Thromboprophylaxis among Australasian colorectal surgeons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thromboembolism is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with colorectal cancer, but thromboprophylaxis (TP) is underutilized. Current guidelines do not make specific recommendations for colorectal cancer patients and provide minimal guidance for the ambulatory setting, although emerging evidence suggests TP may be warranted during chemoradiotherapy or in the extended post-operative phase. A survey of Australasian colorectal surgeons was therefore performed to assess current TP practice and attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was sent to 204 surgeons who were members of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty-eight surgeons (63%) completed the survey. Most surgeons consult available guidelines, and where recommendations are made, current practice is in line with them. Lack of data, lack of ownership, logistical issues and an absence of guideline recommendations currently prevent surgeons from instituting TP in the neoadjuvant treatment period. Fifty-four per cent of surgeons currently prescribe TP after hospital discharge; those that do not, cite logistical issues as the main constraint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More data on thromboembolism risk during various treatment phases are required and should be promulgated in tumour-specific guidelines. Logistical barriers to adopting TP in the ambulatory setting should be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Epworth Healthcare, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. phil.smart@petermac.org
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burbury
authors.forename: Senthil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lingaratnam
authors.forename: A Craig
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heriot
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009520:New Zealand; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents