Resumen

CARDONA-OSPINA, Jaime Andrés et al. Thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients, are we doing the right thing?. Revista médica Risaralda [online]. 2013, vol.19, n.1, pp.41-49. ISSN 0122-0667.

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism are important causes of morbidity and mortality in medically ill and surgical patients. There is a large body of evidence about the benefit of thromboprophylaxis and its cost-effectiveness, no performing prophylaxis is considered an unsafe medical care. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done to assess risk factors and prophylaxis given for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in newly admitted medically ill and surgical patients during August 2009 to March 2010, in a tertiary teaching care center hospital in Colombia (Hospital Universitario San Jorge). Results: Only 29.5 percent out of 210 patients were given pharmacological prophylaxis, despite more than a half patients (57.6%) had three or more venous thromboembolism risk factors. Most of very high risk patients (81.8%) were at the surgical ward. The 47% and the 56,3 were classified as having high or very high risk in the internal medicine and surgical ward respectively. However, 86% of patients at surgical ward, and 97.3% at gynecology and obstetrics ward, did not receive prophylaxis, as long as, at internal medicine ward, more than a half patients did receive it (75.8%). Only 4.3% of patients were given prophylaxis without indication. Discussion: Most of patients who did not receive pharmacological prophylaxis were at surgical ward (41.2%) and gynecology and obstetrics ward (48%) and being admitted in these becomes a risk factor for not receiving thromboprophylaxis (p<0.001). This study underlines the need to aggressively implement venous thromboembolism risk stratification strategy in medical and surgical patients and provide prophylaxis according to the published guidelines.

Palabras clave : Venous thromboembolism; deep vein thrombosis; heparin; risk assessment; risk factors; patient safety.

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