Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in medical patients at Sahlgrenska University Hospital

: Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in medical patients at Sahlgrenska University Hospital A hospitalized medical patient with risk factors has a 5-15 % risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Nonetheless thromboprophylaxis is largely underused. Our aim was to establish the proportion of high risk patients at Sahlgrenska University Hospital receiving thromboprophylaxis and to examine the 3-month incidence of VTE and bleeding. 198 patients were included and risk-stratified according to American College of Chest Physician guidelines. 12 % of high risk patients without and 26 % with increased bleeding risk received pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, as did 8 % of the patients without increased risk of VTE. VTE events occurred in 4.5 % of high risk patients, none received prophylaxis. Bleeding occurred in 5.8 % of those with increased bleeding risk. There is a need to improve thromboprophylaxis use to enhance patient safety and quality of care, for instance by issuing local guidelines.