Abstract

DIAZTAGLE FERNANDEZ, Juan José et al. Thromboprophylaxis in the hospitalized medical patient by internal medicine A cross-sectional study. Acta Med Colomb [online]. 2015, vol.40, n.3, pp.227-233. ISSN 0120-2448.

Introduction: venous thromboembolism is one of the major causes of preventable morbidity and mortality following a hospitalization. Heparins have proven effective for prevention; however, under utilization of these drugs has been documented, so that the implementation of measures to ensure the proper formulation is essential. Strategies to improve the formulation of these drugs have been established in our institution with favorable initial results, but the longer-term effect is unknown. Methods: descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients over 18 years hospitalized for internal medicine between June and November 2012 were evaluated. A representative sample of 102 patients was estimated. Thromboprophylaxis formulation was identified on the second day of hospitalization and it was determined if its prescription was appropriate in accordance with the institutional guidelines as well as errors in its prescription. The results were compared with two previous measurements realized in the institution. Results: Of the 102 patients evaluated, thromboprophylaxis was adequate in 63 (61.8%) and inadequate in 39 (38.2%). The most frequent causes of error were: prescription in low-risk patients 18 (46.1%) and error of omission in 12 (30.7%) patients. The formulation in patients with an indication and without contraindication decreased from 92% to 82% and in patients with no indication increased from 50% to 56.2%, compared to a previous measurement made after the dissemination of institutional guidelines. Conclusions: thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients in internal medicine at our institution is organized in a high percentage, but must be improved. The main error is the formulation in patients with low risk. The implementation of strategies to improve thromboprophylaxis achieved initial improvement, but tends to decrease over time. Continued work of multiple measures to ensure their favorable long-term impact is required. (Acta Med Colomb 2015; 40: 227-233).

Keywords : thromboprophylaxis; venous thromboembolism; heparin; prevention; adhesion.

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