AB042. SOH21AS159. Compliance with completing venous thromboembolism risk assessment tool in surgical patients in a tertiary centre

Background: This study examines the compliance with completion of the venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment tool in a cohort of surgical patients in Cork University Hospital and comparing these results to the NICE Guidelines.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional audit. The standard used is the 2018 NICE Guidelines (NG89). All patients admitted on the general surgical ward on 02/11/2020 were included. Medical patients were excluded. Data was extracted from medication charts for each patient. The primary outcome was the completion rate of the VTE risk assessment tool. Secondary outcomes included compliance with prescribing VTE prophylaxis and recording of patient weight.

Results: A total of 58 patients were included in this study. Overall, 31% (n=18) of patients had a VTE risk assessment completed, 91% (n=53) had low-molecular-weight heparin, unfractionated heparin, an oral anticoagulant or compression stockings prescribed, and 36% (n=21) had their weight recorded. Subgroup analysis of compliance was performed on the surgical specialties included in the study and there was no statistically significant difference between the vascular surgery (31%) and general surgery (40%) cohorts (P=0.557, χ²=0.344). Roughly 8% (n=5) of patients did not have any form of VTE prophylaxis prescribed without justification.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that compliance with VTE risk assessment is low. The NICE Guidelines advise all patients over 16 years are risk assessed at admission and prescribed VTE prophylaxis if indicated within 14 hours of admission. Given hospital-acquired VTE accounts for 50–60% of all VTE continued and repeated education is required in this area at a local level.

Keywords: Venous thromboembolism (VTE); thromboprophylaxis; NICE guidelines; risk assessment; compliance