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Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment and Prophylaxis: An Audit-Based Study
Asfia N Akhtar1,2, Faizan Hameed2, Susan O'Shea3
1Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Waterford, Waterford, IRL.
Cureus
|September 9, 2025
Summary
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis compliance improved significantly after protocol enforcement and staff education. However, some high-risk patients still missed essential preventative treatments, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Medicine
- Healthcare Management
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a major cause of preventable hospital-acquired mortality.
- Early 2024 data indicated suboptimal VTE prophylaxis protocol compliance at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of implementing VTE risk assessment and prophylaxis strategies.
- To evaluate adherence to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for VTE prevention in adult inpatients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 127 adult inpatients at increased risk of VTE across nine wards.
- Risk assessment included age (≥60), major surgery, comorbidities (cancer, hypertension, diabetes, etc.), and bleeding risk factors.
- Data analysis focused on NICE guideline compliance for risk assessment accuracy, completeness, and prophylaxis prescription.
Main Results:
- VTE risk assessment completion reached 87.39% (111/127), with 79.52% (101/127) completed within 24 hours.
- Over 80% of patients had at least one VTE risk factor, primarily advanced age and comorbidities.
- Despite high-risk identification, 17.32% (22/127) of patients did not receive any VTE prophylaxis.
Conclusions:
- Enforced VTE prophylaxis protocols and multidisciplinary education significantly enhance prevention efforts.
- Real-time prompts within electronic health record systems could improve timely prophylaxis administration.
- Sustained efforts are needed to ensure all high-risk patients receive appropriate VTE prevention.
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