title: Venous thromboembolism and underutilisation of anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in hospitalised patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-recognised extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Despite the widespread support for anticoagulant prophylaxis in hospitalised IBD patients, the utilisation and efficacy in clinical practice are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical features of VTE among hospitalised IBD patients and ascertain whether appropriate thromboprophylaxis had been administered.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with a discharge diagnosis of Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis and VTE were retrospectively identified using International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision codes from medical records at our institution from July 1998 to December 2009. Medical records were then reviewed for clinical history and utilisation of thromboprophylaxis. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney test and either χ(2) tests or Fisher's exact tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine of 3758 (0.8%) IBD admissions suffered VTE, 13 preadmission and 16 during admission. Of these 29 admissions (in 25 patients), 24% required intensive care unit and 10% died. Of the 16 venous thrombotic events that occurred during an admission, eight (50%) did not receive anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis and eight (50%) occurred despite thromboprophylaxis. Most thromboembolism despite prophylaxis occurred post-intestinal resection (n = 5, 63%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thromboprophylaxis is underutilised in half of IBD patients suffering VTE. Prescription of thromboprophylaxis for all hospitalised IBD patients, including dual pharmacological and mechanical prophylaxis in postoperative patients, may lead to a reduction in this preventable complication of IBD.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hair
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Crohn disease; anticoagulant; inflammatory bowel disease; ulcerative colitis; venous thromboembolism