"It's good to talk"--an audit of the communication of post-operative thromboembolic complications

The risk of venous thromboembolism after surgery, with its associated morbidity and mortality, is an important component of obtaining informed consent for a surgical procedure. This risk of thromboembolic complications extends beyond the post-operative hospital stay; patients suffering such complications after discharge are generally not re-admitted under the care of the operating surgeon. A retrospective opening loop audit was undertaken to investigate the communication of post-operative thromboembolic complications between specialties in a large district general hospital. The operating surgeon was unaware of 87% of cases of pulmonary embolism and 20% of cases of deep vein thrombosis affecting patients in their post-operative period. The inter-specialty communication of post-operative complications is important to maintain a high standard of patient care and allow surgeons to make informed decisions about clinical practice.