scholarly journals Improving venous thromboembolism risk assessments on an older age psychiatric ward – a complete audit cycle

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S86-S86
Author(s):  
Syazana JD ◽  
Edward Hart ◽  
Ranjit Mahanta ◽  
Alison Marshall

AimsVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease amongst hospital patients. Within acute hospitals, there are well established protocols for risk assessment and prevention of VTE via mechanical and pharmacological prophylaxes.In psychiatry, assessment of VTE risk is more commonly overlooked despite many inherent risk factors which are unique to acute psychiatric admissions; including antipsychotic medications, physical restraint, catatonic states, and poor nutritional and hydration status[1]. The risk is compounded in older adult psychiatric patients, in which both patient and admission-related risk factors can act synergistically.Anecdotally, it was reported that VTE assessments were not being completed and documented on the electronic patient record system. Our aim was to introduce a physical VTE risk assessment to attach to paper drug charts, which would act as a prompt for junior doctors, and serve to increase rates of completion.MethodA baseline retrospective audit of all patients admitted to the older adult inpatient ward over an 11-week period (05/08/2019~20/10/2019) was undertaken. The number of completed electronic VTE risk assessments at admission, and at 24 hours post-admission were calculated.Subsequently, a new paper VTE risk assessment proforma was developed, combining the Department of Health VTE risk assessment tool[3] with several VTE risk factors associated with psychiatric patients (catatonia, antipsychotic medication, reduced oral intake, psychomotor retardation). Education was provided to the ward doctors, and regular assessments of VTE risk was incorporated into the weekly MDT meetings.A re-audit was completed to assess the completion rates of the new paper VTE proforma. A snapshot style audit of all inpatients on the ward on Thursday 24th February 2020 was performed.ResultThe baseline audit included 23 patients admitted during the 11-week period, consisting of 21 men and two women. The mean age was 74 years. Three patients (13% of total admissions) had their VTE and bleeding risk assessed on admission.Following the implementation of a new VTE risk assessment proforma, the re-audit showed that all 19 inpatients (100% of total admissions) had a completed assessment. Although none of the patients required mechanical prophylaxis, one patient was receiving ongoing treatment for pulmonary embolism.ConclusionVTE is a preventable disease, which historically has been under-recognised by psychiatric doctors. The introduction of a paper risk assessment proforma increased completion from 13% to 100%. It also prompted regular review of VTE risk during the weekly MDT meetings. This intervention may reduce the incidence of VTE-related pathology on the ward.

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Karagiannidis ◽  
Omar Toma

Abstract Aims Audit to assess Orthopaedic departments’ compliance with NICE guidelines on Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis published in 2010, specifically looking at VTE practices for patients with lower limb injuries treated in a plaster cast. Methods A telephonic survey was carried out on junior doctors within orthopaedic departments of 66 hospitals across all regions of England. A questionnaire was completed regarding VTE risk assessment, prophylaxis and hospital guidelines etc. Data collected from August 2016 till February 2017. Results 83% (n = 55) of trusts routinely give VTE prophylaxis to these patients. 96% (n = 64) give Chemoprophylaxis of some sort. Formal VTE assessments are performed in 81% (n = 54) and 77% (n = 51) have a local VTE prophylaxis policy. Conclusions We conclude that Orthopaedic departments across England have increased compliance with NICE guidelines for VTE prophylaxis. However there is considerable variation in practice, especially in duration and chemoprophylaxis agent. We attribute this to the lack of specific NICE guidelines for this cohort of patients. We aim that this study can influence NICE to introduce added guidance that will standardise practice.


Author(s):  
Roseann O’Doherty ◽  
Fionnuala Ní Ainle

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of maternal mortality in developed countries. The baseline pregnancy-associated VTE (PA-VTE) risk is further increased by additional maternal, pregnancy, and delivery characteristics. In a recently developed risk prediction model for postpartum VTE, emergency caesarean section, stillbirth, postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, infection, and medical comorbidities were the strongest VTE predictors. While the evidence base supporting optimal strategies for reducing the risk of postpartum VTE in general is weak, for women with prior VTE it appears that this risk may be reduced by up to 75% with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). VTE prevention in women with more common VTE risk factors is a knowledge gap in 2020, with widely varying international guideline recommendations. However, there is no debate surrounding the requirement to perform systematic VTE risk assessment in pregnant and postpartum women.


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 88-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Stone ◽  
George Szmukler

Aims and MethodPatient records from the emergency clinic at the Maudsley Hospital were analysed from July 1999 to assess the standard of risk assessment for self-harm and for harm to others routinely recorded by junior doctors. The recorded risk factors for the consultation and the evidence that risk had been considered were noted. An intervention that comprised two seminars and two written reminders about the importance of risk assessment was made and the analysis of records in the emergency clinic repeated for July 2000.ResultsRisk factors were recorded more frequently for harm to self than for harm to others. There was little recorded evidence that consideration had been given to the overall risk of harm to self, and there was no evidence of this for harm to others. Recording of risk did not change significantly between 1999 and 2000.Clinical ImplicationsAssessment for risk of harm to others is not a part of the emergency consultation that is emphasised by the majority of junior psychiatrists. Changing practice will require a shift in the way that risk to others is presented in psychiatric teaching.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bui My Hanh ◽  
Le Quang Cuong ◽  
Nguyen Truong Son ◽  
Duong Tuan Duc ◽  
Tran Tien Hung ◽  
...  

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent preventable complication among surgical patients. Precise risk assessment is a necessary step for providing appropriate thromboprophylaxis and reducing mortality as well as morbidity caused by VTE. We carried out this work to define the rate of VTE postoperatively, following a Caprini score, and to determine VTE risk factors through a modified Caprini risk scoring system. This multicenter, observational, cohort study involved 2,790,027 patients who underwent surgery in four Vietnamese hospitals from 01/2017 to 12/2018. All patients who were evaluated before surgery by using a Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) and monitored within 90 days after surgery. The endpoint of the study was ultrasound-confirmed VTE. Our data showed that the 90-day postoperative VTE was found in 3068 patients. Most of VTE (46.97%) cases were found in the highest risk group (Caprini score > 5). A total of 37.19% were observed in the high risk group, while the rest (15.84%) were from low to moderate risk groups. The likelihood of occurring VTE was heightened 2.83 times for patients with a Caprini score of 3–4, 4.83 times for a Caprini score of 5–6, 8.84 times for a score of 7–8, and 11.42 times for a score of >8, comparing to ones with a score of 0 to 2 (all p values < 0.05). Thus, the frequency of postoperative VTE rises substantially, according to the advanced Caprini score. Further categorizing patients among the highest risk group need delivering more appropriate thromboprophylaxis.


2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R H Scurr ◽  
J H Scurr

Objectives: To report the outcome of 100 consecutive medicolegal claims referred to one of the authors (1990–2003) following the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in surgical patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the experience of a vascular surgeon acting as an expert witness in the United Kingdom. Results: Prophylaxis had been provided to 43 claimants with risk factors, who, unfortunately, still developed a VTE and alleged negligence. Twenty-nine claims involved patients who had not received prophylaxis because they were at low risk. In 25/28 claims where no prophylaxis was provided, despite identifiable VTE risk factors, the claim was successful. Claimants who developed a VTE that had been managed incorrectly were successful whether they had received prophylaxis or not. Settlement amounts, where disclosed, are reported. Conclusions: Failure to perform a risk assessment and to provide appropriate venous thromboprophylaxis in surgical patients is considered negligent. Clinicians looking after all hospitalized patients who are not assessing their patients' risk for VTE and/or not providing appropriate prophylaxis are at risk of being accused of negligence.


Author(s):  
Jean Baptiste Ramampisendrahova ◽  
Andriamanantsialonina Andrianony ◽  
Aina Andrianina Vatosoa Rakotonarivo ◽  
Mamisoa Bodohasina Rasamoelina ◽  
Eric Andriantsoa ◽  
...  

The purpose of this research is to ascertain the prevalence of postoperative venous thromboembolism in the Department of Surgery at Anosiala University Hospital and to identify risk factors for developing postoperative venous thromboembolism using the Caprini Risk Assessment Model. From December 2017 to October 2019, this was a 22-month prospective cohort research conducted at Anosiala University Hospital. It included all adult patients over the age of 18 who were operated on in an emergency or on a planned basis by the Department of Surgery. This research included 662 participants. Within 30 days after surgery, the risk of venous thromboembolism was 0.3 percent. According to the overall Caprini score, 25.2 percent of patients were classified as having a low risk of venous thromboembolism, 25.2 percent as having a moderate risk, 29.5 percent as having a high risk, and 20.1 percent as having the greatest risk. Patients in the highest risk category (scoring 5) had a substantially increased chance of having venous thromboembolism after surgery (p = 0.0007). Only major open surgery was related with a statistically significant increase in postoperative venous thromboembolism (p = 0.028). Age 75 years, elective arthroplasty, and hip, pelvic, or leg fractures were not linked with postoperative venous thromboembolism statistically significantly (p> 0.05). Our findings indicate that the Caprini risk assessment model might be used successfully to avoid postoperative venous thromboembolism in surgical patients in Madagascar, since patients in the highest risk category had a considerably increased chance of developing postoperative venous thromboembolism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoling Zhong ◽  
◽  
Rongqin Yu ◽  
Robert Cornish ◽  
Xiaoping Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Violence risk assessment is a routine part of clinical services in mental health, and in particular secure psychiatric hospitals. The use of prediction models and risk tools can assist clinical decision-making on risk management, including decisions about further assessments, referral, hospitalization and treatment. In recent years, scalable evidence-based tools, such as Forensic Psychiatry and Violent Oxford (FoVOx), have been developed and validated for patients with mental illness. However, their acceptability and utility in clinical settings is not known. Therefore, we conducted a clinical impact study in multiple institutions that provided specialist mental health service. Methods We followed a two-step mixed-methods design. In phase one, we examined baseline risk factors on 330 psychiatric patients from seven forensic psychiatric institutes in China. In phase two, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 clinicians regarding violence risk assessment from ten mental health centres. We compared the FoVOx score on each admission (n = 110) to unstructured clinical risk assessment and used a thematic analysis to assess clinician views on the accuracy and utility of this tool. Results The median estimated probability of violent reoffending (FoVOx score) within 1 year was 7% (range 1–40%). There was fair agreement (72/99, 73% agreement) on the risk categories between FoVOx and clinicians’ assessment on risk categories, and moderate agreement (10/12, 83% agreement) when examining low and high risk categories. In a majority of cases (56/101, 55%), clinicians thought the FoVOx score was an accurate representation of the violent risk of an individual patient. Clinicians suggested some additional clinical, social and criminal risk factors should be considered during any comprehensive assessment. In addition, FoVOx was considered to be helpful in assisting clinical decision-making and individual risk assessment. Ten out of 11 clinicians reported that FoVOx was easy to use, eight out of 11 was practical, and all clinicians would consider using it in the future. Conclusions Clinicians found that violence risk assessment could be improved by using a simple, scalable tool, and that FoVOx was feasible and practical to use.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Fructuoso ◽  
Inmaculada Fierro ◽  
María-Isabel Jiménez-Serranía ◽  
Alfonso Carvajal Garcia-Pando

Abstract Background: Suicide remains a leading cause of death and psychiatric population is often at increased risk for suicide. Therefore, there is a persistent need for well-designed clinical instruments that allows us to identify relevant risk factors. Our study aims to improve patient follow-up and identify possible suicide risk markers from a passage to self-harm among hospitalized psychiatric patients. Methods: This case-control study included the review of psychiatric, sociodemographic, drug use, and other health-related data, retrieved from 1,680 psychiatric patients’ health records. Differences between comparative groups were examined, and stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to identify suicide risk factors within this population.Results: From the analysis of 560 suicide attempters’ clinical records, thirteen risk items were included in our final model, named as Risk Assessment Score of Suicide Attempt (RASSA). The factors that scored the highest in this model were ‘not taking antipsychotic medication’, ‘somatic comorbidity’, and ‘a family history of suicide’. Suffering from depression has a high score, and treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is also involved in the risk of a suicide attempt. Regarding medication use, opioid analgesics decreased the risk score, while taking non-opioid analgesics increased it. In terms of commonly abused substances, alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamine dependence increased the score. A higher risk was also associated with cannabis dependence, while tobacco use reduced it. As for demographics, the risk was significantly greater for women and subjects who were unmarried. Conclusions: The proposed model of risk assessment score of suicide attempt (RASSA) offers the possibility of establishing a suicide attempt risk based on data directly gathered from the health records of psychiatric patients. Therefore, it might be used as an initial screening test before patient evaluation and psychometric tests.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4218-4218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Edward Mahan ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
James D. Douketis ◽  
Alexander G.G. Turpie ◽  
Undaleeb Dairkee ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4218 Introduction. Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) remains the most common cause of preventable death in hospitalized patients despite more than 25 guidelines and over 5 decades of data on VTE prevention. American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and International Union of Angiology (IUA) guideline recommendations are primarily based off of risk factors utilized for entry into randomized controlled trials (RCT) or post-hoc analysis of these RCTs. These guidelines recommend a group-based, as opposed to an individualized risk assessment, approach. It is currently unknown how these risk factors interact in a quantitative manner. There are currently no weighted, validated, VTE risk assessment models (RAM) that are data-derived in medical patients. A retrospective VTE RAM (IMPACT ILL) was recently derived from the multinational IMPROVE registry in hospitalized medical patients. (Table 1) The “VTE-VALOURR ” is a retrospective, multi-center, case control, validation study of this RAM. The VTE-VALOURR is also assessing other VTE and bleeding risk factors. Methods. ICD-10 reports and the McMaster Transfusion Registry for Utilization Surveillance and Tracking (TRUST) database, which contains demographics, transfusion data, and approximately 50 clinical variables including thrombotic outcomes of inpatients, were used as the data source at 3 hospitals. Inclusion criteria were hospitalized medical patients ≥ 18 years with ≥ 3 days length of stay (LOS). Exclusion criteria were patients with pregnancy, mental health disorders, atrial fibrillation/ flutter, trauma, spinal cord injury, surgery within 90 days, VTE within 24 hours of admission, treatment dose anticoagulants (including warfarin) within 48 hours of admission, or transferred from a non-McMaster acute care facility. Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism out to 90 days post admission were the thrombotic outcomes of interest and verified by chart review. Upper extremity DVT was excluded. Descriptive statistics (proportions and frequencies) were used to summarize binary variables. Results. From January 1st, 2005 to February 28th, 2011, 247,241 hospitalizations occurred at 3 McMaster hospitals. After exclusionary criteria were applied, 779 VTE events were identified. (Figure 1) Of these, 419 were excluded because they were VTE events not related to a previous hospitalization (i.e. community-acquired). Of the remaining 360 patients, 240 have been reviewed with 93 confirmed, included, VTE events having occurred, 147 events being further excluded, and another 120 patients still requiring review. We present an interim analysis of the 93 currently included patients. Of the included patients, 68 (73%) received some form of prophylaxis during their hospital stay while 35 (38%) received appropriate type, dose and duration of prophylaxis. Fifty-eight (62%) of VTE events were therefore “preventable.” Number of risk factors per patient and risk scores for the 93 patients are listed in tables 2 and 3. Conclusions. Validation of this VTE RAM will identify medical patients at risk of VTE that do not readily fit into group-specific VTE risk categories. Additionally, validation will identify subsets of patients at especially high risk of VTE and focus future randomized controlled trials. Other VTE risk factors may be identified with the study. Review of the 120 VTE cohort patients needs to be completed as well as review of a comparator control cohort. Approximately 80% of the current VTE cohort appears to have a score of 2 or above and be at moderate to high risk of VTE. Final results of approximately 150 VTE patients will be presented along with the control cohort as well as if the model is valid. Disclosures: Turpie: Astellas Pharma Europe: Consultancy; Bayer HealthCare AG: Consultancy; Portola Pharma: Consultancy; sanofi-aventis: Consultancy.


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