scholarly journals Maintained effectiveness of an electronic alert system to prevent venous thromboembolism among hospitalized patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (10) ◽  
pp. 699-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón Lecumberri ◽  
Margarita Marqués ◽  
María Díaz-Navarlaz ◽  
Elena Panizo ◽  
Jon Toledo ◽  
...  

SummaryDespite current guidelines, venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is underused. Computerized programs to encourage physicians to apply thromboprophylaxis have been shown to be effective in selected populations. Our aim was to analyze the impact of the implementation of a computer- alert system for VTE risk in all hospitalized patients of a teaching hospital. A computer program linked to the clinical record database was developed to assess all hospitalized patients’VTE risk daily. The physician responsible for patients at high risk was alerted, but remained free to order or withhold prophylaxis. Over 19,000 hospitalized, medical and surgical, adult patients between January to June 2005 (pre-intervention phase), January to June 2006 and January to June 2007 (postintervention phase), were included. During the first semesters of 2006 and 2007, an electronic alert was sent to 32.8% and 32.2% of all hospitalized patients, respectively. Appropriate prophylaxis among alerted patients was ordered in 89.7% (2006) and 88.5% (2007) of surgical patients, and in 49.2% (2006) and 64.4% (2007) of medical patients. A sustained reduction of VTE during hospitalization was achieved, Odds ratio (OR): 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.25–1.10) and OR: 0.51, 95%CI (0.24–1.05) during the first semesters of 2006 and 2007 respectively, the impact being significant (p<0.05) among medical patients in 2007, OR: 0.36, 95%CI (0.12–0.98). The implementation of a computer- alert program helps physicians to assess each patient’s thrombotic risk, leading to a better use of thromboprophylaxis, and a reduction in the incidence of VTE among hospitalized patients. For the first time, an intervention aimed to improveVTE prophylaxis shows maintained effectiveness over time.

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1729-1729
Author(s):  
Erica A. Peterson ◽  
Hayley Merkeley ◽  
Elena Cavazzi ◽  
Leena Chen ◽  
Agnes Y.Y. Lee

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in patients with underlying cancer. This risk is higher during hospitalization for acute medical conditions. Consequently, routine thromboprophylaxis is recommended in hospitalized cancer patients. A retrospective review of admissions to the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant (LBMT) unit at our institution between January and June 2010 demonstrated that VTE prophylaxis was prescribed in only 6.6% of admissions. In March 2012, a mandatory VTE risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis protocol was introduced in the LBMT unit as part of a hospital-wide policy to improve thromboprophylaxis compliance for all hospitalized patients. Objectives The primary goal is to assess the impact of the VTE thromboprophylaxis protocol on the use of thromboprophylaxis in the LBMT unit. Secondary aims of this study are to evaluate the incidence of VTE (including catheter-related thrombosis [CRT]) and bleeding after the introduction of the protocol. Methods A retrospective chart review of all admissions to the Vancouver General Hospital LBMT unit between March 1, 2012 and February 28, 2013 was performed (intervention cohort [IC]). Only the first admission for each patient during the study period was included in the analysis. Data were extracted from electronic medical records using standardized forms. The primary outcome, rate of VTE prophylaxis, was compared to historical data from January 2010 to June 2010 (historical cohort [HC]). Results 361 patients were included in the IC and 166 patients were included in the HC. All baseline patient characteristics, thrombotic risk factors and bleeding risk factors were similar between the cohorts with the exception of the presence of thrombocytopenia (82.0% IC vs. 68.7% HC, p=0.001) (Table 1 ). At least one dose of thromboprophylaxis was prescribed in 14.0% of admissions in the IC vs. 6.6% of admissions in the HC. This increase was statistically significant (p=0.01). Despite the low prophylaxis prevalence, VTE was uncommon, occurring in only 1.9% patients in the IC (pulmonary embolism [PE] in 5 patients, CRT in 1 patient and left ventricular thrombus in 1 patient) vs. 2.4% patients in the HC (deep vein thrombosis +/- PE in 3 patients, CRT and PE in 1 patient) (p=0.7). In contrast, bleeding complications were frequent (even in the absence of anticoagulants), with 13.3% of patients in the IC and 19.3% of patients in the HC experiencing at least one bleeding episode (p=0.08). 22 patients (6.1%) in the IC and 8 patients (4.8%) in the HC died during the study period. While fatal bleeding events occurred in 2 patients in each cohort in the absence of anticoagulation, no deaths due to VTE were observed. Conclusions After introduction of a standardized protocol, VTE prophylaxis rate in hospitalized LBMT patients significantly increased by over 2-fold but remains low. No changes in bleeding and VTE rates were observed despite the increase in prophylaxis compliance. Although thrombocytopenia is likely the prime reason for withholding prophylaxis, further review is ongoing to elucidate the reasons why thromboprophylaxis was not prescribed in the majority of patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2021 ◽  
pp. 26-40
Author(s):  
A. B. Sugraliyev ◽  
Sh. S. Aktayeva ◽  
Sh. B. Zhangelova ◽  
S. A. Shiller ◽  
Zh. M. Kussymzhanova ◽  
...  

Introduction. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health issue that is frequently underestimated. The primary objective of this multicenter study was to identify patients at risk for VTE, and to define the rate of patients receiving appropriate prophylaxis in the regions of Kazakhstan.Materials and methods. Standardized case report forms were filled by trained medical doctors on one predefined day in selected hospitals. Data were analyzed by independent biostatistician. Risk of VTE was categorized according to Caprini score which was recommended by 2004 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines.Results. 432 patients from 4 regions of Kazakhstan; 169 (39.10%) medical patients and 263 (60.9%) surgical patients were eligible for the study. Patients were at low (10%), moderate (19.2%), high (33.6%) and very high risk (37.3%) for VTE. The main risk factors (RF) of VTE among hospitalized patients were heart failure (HF), obesity, prolonged bed rest, and the presence of acute non-infective inflammation. From total number of hospitalized patients with RF with indications to VTE prophylaxis, 58.1% of patients received pharmacological prophylaxis and only 24.6% of them received VTE prophylaxis according ACCP. On the other hand, 23.5% patients with the risk of VTE but who were not eligible for it received pharmacological prophylaxis.Conclusion. These results indicate the existence of inconsistency between eligibility for VTE prophylaxis on one hand and its application in practice (p < 0.001). Risk factors for VTE and eligibility for VTE prophylaxis are common, but VTE prophylaxis and guidelines application are low.


2014 ◽  
Vol 142 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 249-256
Author(s):  
Nebojsa Antonijevic ◽  
Ljubica Jovanovic ◽  
Valentina Djordjevic ◽  
Ivana Zivkovic ◽  
Miodrag Vukcevic ◽  
...  

Adequate thromboprophylaxis primarily requires timely detection of reversible and irreversible risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and their categorization. It is important to note that the highest percentage of VTE episodes occur in non-surgical (medical) patients and that VTE develops in a large number of surgical patients upon hospital discharge; this emphasizes the need for adequate VTE prevention in inflammatory diseases, acute medical illness and other medical diseases as well as for prolonging and optimizing the anticoagulant regimen after surgical intervention in the primary VTE prophylaxis. As almost completely unrecognized and neglected major risk factors of VTE in clinical practice, we particularly point out the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure, especially in NYHA functional class III and IV patients with significantly reduced left heart ventricle. It is necessary to raise clinicians? awareness of a potential danger from wrongly and one-sidedly interpreted dyspnea and coughing signs in patients with COPD as typical symptoms of basic respiratory disease as well as from ascribing the signs of disease aggravation in heart failure patients exclusively to cardial status worsening, neglecting the possibility of having unrecognized and untreated pulmonary embolism at issue. Contemporary way of life enhances the development of new VTE risk factors such as traveler?s thrombosis, in particular during long-haul flights as well as in individuals sitting at a computer for prolonged periods (e-thrombosis). Determining and recognizing VTE risk factors, especially those formerly neglected nonsurgical ones and simultaneous presence of multiple risk factors within a given period is required for defining an adequate anticoagulant regimen in primary VTE prophylaxis for surgical and non-surgical (medical) patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (05) ◽  
pp. 460-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Prandoni ◽  
Sofia Barbar

AbstractDeep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, accounting for up to 10% of hospitalization-related deaths in both surgical and medical patients. Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis has been demonstrated to be effective, safe, and cost-effective in preventing hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) among medical inpatients, and clinician awareness of thrombotic risk promotes prescription of thromboprophylaxis. Guidelines recommend stratification of thrombotic risk for all patients and, unless contraindicated, administration of VTE prophylaxis. Based on several recognized predisposing and exposing risk factors for VTE, several scoring systems have been published in the past 15 years. Borrowing models developed in the surgical setting, recognized risk factors for VTE complications in medical inpatients have been combined in different weighted scores and derived and validated in heterogeneous medical populations. Although the perfect score, balancing thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk, has probably not yet been built, the adoption of an easy-to-use risk assessment model has the potential to support physicians in properly stratifying VTE risk in medical inpatients, tailoring thromboprophylaxis prescription.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3019-3019
Author(s):  
Nils Kucher ◽  
David Spirk ◽  
Christoph Kalka ◽  
Lucia Mazzolai ◽  
Daniel Nobel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis among hospitalized patients remains underutilized. We investigated the use of appropriate prophylaxis and predictors for using prophylaxis prior to the onset of acute VTE. Methods: In 14 academic and non-academic Swiss hospitals, 567 consecutive patients (306 medical and 261 surgical patients) with objectively confirmed acute VTE and hospitalization within 30 days prior to the VTE event were enrolled. Data on acute and chronic comorbidities, VTE risk factors, and prophylaxis use prior to VTE were prospectively recorded. Results: Among the 567 patients (62±16 years), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) alone was diagnosed in 222 (39%), acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in 218 (38%), and PE plus DVT in 127 (22%). Overall, prophylaxis was used in 329 (58%) patients prior to the VTE event. Among the medical patients, 146 (48%) received prophylaxis, and among the surgical patients, 183 (70%) received prophylaxis (p &lt;0.001). The indication for prophylaxis was present in 262 (86%) medical patients and in 217 (83%) surgical patients. Among the patients with an indication for prophylaxis, 135 (52%) of the medical patients and 165 (76%) of the surgical patients received prophylaxis (p &lt;0.001). Admission to the intensive care unit (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.94–5.57), recent surgery (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.51–3.44), bed rest &gt;3 days (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.45–3.09), obesity (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.03–3.90), prior DVT (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.31–2.24), and prior PE (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.05–2.26) were independent predictors of prophylaxis. In contrast, cancer (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.89–1.25), age (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.01), acute heart failure (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.79–1.63), and acute respiratory failure (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.89–1.59) were not predictive of prophylaxis. Conclusions: Although an indication for prophylaxis was present in most patients who suffered acute VTE as a complication during or shortly after hospitalization, almost half did not receive any form of prophylaxis. Future effort should focus on the improvement of prophylaxis in hospitalized patients, particularly in patients with cancer, acute heart or respiratory failure, and in the elderly.


2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
pp. 507-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
S T Rashid ◽  
M R Thursz ◽  
N A Razvi ◽  
R Voller ◽  
T Orchard ◽  
...  

We prospectively assessed the implementation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis guidelines and the impact of grand round presentation of the data in changing clinical practice. Two NHS teaching hospitals were studied for 24 months from January 2003. Patients were risk stratified according to the THRIFT (thromboembolic risk factor) consensus group guidelines and compared with the recommendations of the THRIFT and ACCP (American College of Chest Physicians) consensus groups. Six months following presentation of the initial results, a further analysis was made to assess changes in clinical practice. 1128 patients were assessed of whom 1062 satisfied the inclusion criteria for thromboprophylaxis. 89% of all patients were stratified as having high or moderate risk of developing VTE. Of these only 28% were prescribed some form of thromboprophylaxis–-4% received the THRIFT-recommended and 22% received the ACCP-recommended thromboprophylaxis. The vast majority (72%) received no thromboprophylaxis at all. Reassessment, following data presentation at grand rounds, showed a significant increase to 31% in patients receiving THRIFT (P<0.0001) and ACCP (P=0.002) recommended thromboprophylaxis. However, the proportion of patients receiving no form of prophylaxis barely changed (72% to 69%: P=0.59). We found a gross underutilization of thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients. A simple grand-round presentation of the data and recommended guidelines to clinicians significantly increased the proportion of patients receiving recommended thromboprophylaxis but did not increase the overall proportion of patients receiving it. We therefore conclude that a single presentation of guidelines is not enough to achieve the desired levels. Such presentations may only serve to make DVT (deep venous thromboembolism) aware clinicians prescribe prophylaxis more accurately.


2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (10) ◽  
pp. 600-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Welner ◽  
Maria Kubin ◽  
Kerstin Folkerts ◽  
Sylvia Haas ◽  
Hanane Khoury

SummaryIt was the aim of this review to assess the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and current practice patterns for VTE prophylaxis among medical patients with acute illness in Europe. A literature search was conducted on the epidemiology and prophylaxis practices of VTE prevention among adult patients treated in-hospital for major medical conditions. A total of 21 studies with European information published between 1999 and April 2010 were retrieved. Among patients hospitalised for an acute medical illness, the incidence of VTE varied between 3.65% (symptomatic only over 10.9 days) and 14.9% (asymptomatic and symptomatic over 14 days). While clinical guidelines recommend pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis for patients admitted to hospital with an acute medical illness who are bedridden, clear identification of specific risk groups who would benefit from VTE prophylaxis is lacking. In the majority of studies retrieved, prophylaxis was under-used among medical inpatients; 21% to 62% of all patients admitted to the hospital for acute medical illnesses did not receive VTE prophylaxis. Furthermore, among patients who did receive prophylaxis, a considerable proportion received medication that was not in accord with guidelines due to short duration, suboptimal dose, or inappropriate type of prophylaxis. In most cases, the duration of VTE prophylaxis did not exceed hospital stay, the mean duration of which varied between 5 and 11 days. In conclusion, despite demonstrated efficacy and established guidelines supporting VTE prophylaxis, utilisation rates and treatment duration remain suboptimal, leaving medical patients at continued risk for VTE. Improved guideline adherence and effective care delivery among the medically ill are stressed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A176.1-A176
Author(s):  
FI Ferreira Tátá ◽  
MA Pires Rebelo ◽  
ML Grenho Pereira ◽  
NM Ribeiro Landeira ◽  
SM Dias Fanica ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 1216-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Newhook ◽  
Damien J. Lapar ◽  
Dustin M. Walters ◽  
Shruti Gupta ◽  
Joshua S. Jolissaint ◽  
...  

The impact of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hepatectomy on patient morbidity, mortality, and resource usage remains poorly defined. Better understanding of thromboembolic complications is needed to improve perioperative management and overall outcomes. About 3973 patients underwent hepatectomy within NSQIP between 2005 and 2008. Patient characteristics, operative features, and postoperative correlates of VTE were compared with identify risk factors for VTE and to assess its overall impact on postoperative outcomes. Overall incidence of postoperative VTE was 2.4 per cent. Risk factors for postoperative VTE included older age, male gender, compromised functional status, degree of intraoperative blood transfusion, preoperative albumin level (all P < 0.05), and extent of hepatectomy ( P = 0.004). Importantly, major postoperative complications, including acute renal failure, pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, reintubation, prolonged ventilation, cardiac arrest, and reoperation were all associated with higher rates of VTE (all P < 0.05). Operative mortality was increased among patients with VTE (6.5% vs 2.4%, P = 0.03), and patients with VTE had a 2-fold increase in hospital length of stay (12.0 vs 6.0 days, P < 0.001). Postoperative VTE remains a significant source of morbidity, mortality, and increased resource usage after hepatectomy in the United States. Routine aggressive VTE prophylaxis measures are imperative to avoid development of VTE among patients requiring hepatectomy.


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