Incidence of deep venous thrombosis and stratification of risk groups in a university hospital vascular surgery unit

Alberto Okuhara,José Oyama Moura De Leite,Túlio Pinho Navarro,Ricardo Jayme Procópio

doi:10.1590/1677-5449.0071

Alberto Okuhara, José Oyama Moura De Leite + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1677-5449.0071

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a knowledge gap with relation to the true incidence of deep vein thrombosis among patients undergoing vascular surgery procedures in Brazil. This study is designed to support the implementation of a surveillance system to control the quality of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in our country. Investigations in specific institutions have determined the true incidence of deep vein thrombosis and identified risk groups, to enable measures to be taken to ensure adequate prophylaxis and treatment to prevent the condition.OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients admitted to hospital for non-venous vascular surgery procedures and stratify them into risk groups.METHOD: This was a cross-sectional observational study that evaluated 202 patients from a university hospital vascular surgery clinic between March 2011 and July 2012. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis was determined using vascular ultrasound examinations and the Caprini scale.RESULTS: The mean incidence of deep venous thrombosis in vascular surgery patients was 8.5%. The frequency distribution of patients by venous thromboembolism risk groups was as follows: 8.4% were considered low risk, 17.3% moderate risk, 29.7% high risk and 44.6% were classified as very high risk.CONCLUSION: The incidence of deep venous thrombosis in vascular surgery patients was 8.5%, which is similar to figures reported in the international literature. Most vascular surgery patients were stratified into the high and very high risk for deep venous thrombosis groups.

Highlights

Deep venous thrombosis is the greatest cause of in-hospital deaths worldwide and, paradoxically, the most avoidable.[1]
These investigations revealed the true incidence of deep venous thrombosis and enabled identification of risk groups, which in turn made it possible to adopt measures based on the best scientific evidence in order to prevent this severe condition
Patients who aroused clinical suspicion of venous thrombosis while in hospital were sent for vascular ultrasonography on the day the condition was suspected and asymptomatic patients were examined on the day they were discharged from hospital

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Deep venous thrombosis is the greatest cause of in-hospital deaths worldwide and, paradoxically, the most avoidable.[1]. In Brazil, Deheinzelin et al.[7] used both the Caprini and the American College of Chest Physicians models for identification of risk factors to assess the quality of prophylaxis against deep venous thrombosis given to patients in four hospitals in São Paulo. In each institution, these investigations revealed the true incidence of deep venous thrombosis and enabled identification of risk groups, which in turn made it possible to adopt measures based on the best scientific evidence in order to prevent this severe condition. Those studies that do exist are not recent and were based on small samples

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