Factors associated with thromboprophylaxis for orthopedic patients and their impact on outcome

• Published in: The American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.) Vol. 36; no. 4; p. 193
• Main Authors: Muntz, James E, O'Connor, Paul J, Yin, Hongjun, Vogenberg, F Randy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2007
• Subjects: Aged; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip - adverse effects; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - adverse effects; Aspirin - therapeutic use; Humans; Middle Aged; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Pulmonary Embolism - etiology; Pulmonary Embolism - prevention & control; Treatment Outcome; Venous Thrombosis - etiology; Venous Thrombosis - prevention & control
• ISSN: 1078-4519

We conducted a study to identify the factors affecting inpatient thromboprophylaxis use and to assess the impact of pharmacologic prophylaxis on the incidence of postsurgical venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our ultimate goal was to close the gap in knowledge about the need for thromboprophylaxis, including aspirin use. Although prophylaxis was effective in reducing VTE risk in orthopedic patients, it seemed to be underused at some hospitals, and use of aspirin alone in these patients con-thenumber of hand kneereplacements tinues despite guidelines recommending otherwise.