[Thromboembolism prevention in acute myocardial infarction]

The objectives were to identify risk factors for vein thromboembolic disease (VTD) among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to analyse both quantitatively and qualitatively the performed thromboembolic prophylaxis. A cross-sectional study was carried out with all inpatients at the Coronary Unit at our hospital during 1998. The risk factors for thromboembolism included: inmobilization (79.2%), heart failure (33.2%) and age over 70 years (31%). VTD prophylaxis was performed in 86.9% of the time. Non-fractioned heparin (NFH) and low molecular weight heparins (LMWH), mostly nadroparine, were the most commonly used drugs at admission and at discharge, respectively. Overdosage and underdosage for NFH and LMWH, respectively, were observed. That patients received or not VTD prophylaxis was not influenced by thromboembolic risk factors.