Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in Irish hospitals

This study was undertaken to survey the current practice for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in Irish hospitals. A questionnaire was completed by 293 Irish consultant hospital doctors for the period October 1991 to December 1992 regarding their policy for VTE prophylaxis. Of the doctors surveyed, 36.85% are physicians, 27.3% are surgeons, 20.1% obstetricians and gynaecologists and 15.7% anaesthetists. 94% of physicians initiated DVT prophylaxis in their 'at risk' patients. 94% of the surgeons and 92% of the obstetricians/gynaecologists had used VTE prophylaxis and usage in both groups was more common in high risk patients. Anaesthetists reported VTE prophylaxis being used in an average of 20% of operations. Physicians considered the most important risk factors to be immobility, the period post myocardial infarction and a history of previous DVT. Other factors considered important by surgeons included advancing patient age and malignancy while obstetricians thought obesity to be a major risk factor. The most favoured prophylactic measures used by all doctors surveyed were subcutaneous heparin and elastic (TED) stockings.