TY - JOUR
T1 - Thromboprophylaxis for intensive care patients in Australia and New Zealand
T2 - A brief survey report
AU - Cooper, D. James
AU - Bishop, Nicole
AU - Cade, John
AU - Finfer, Simon
AU - Gallus, Alex
AU - Myburgh, John
PY - 2005/12/1
Y1 - 2005/12/1
N2 - Purpose: Internationally, there is practice variation concerning optimal thromboprophylaxis for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The current practice in Australia and New Zealand is unknown. Method: We conducted a self-administered e-mail survey of 22 Australian and New Zealand ICUs expressing interest in participating in a proposed international randomized trial (PROphylaxis for ThromboEmbolism in Critical Care Trial). Results: Our response rate was 95.4% (95% CI, 77%-100%). Of participating ICUs, 90.5% (95% CI, 70%-99%) used subcutaneous unfractionated heparin for routine thromboprophylaxis in ICU patients. Low-molecular-weight heparin was reserved for specific high-risk patients in many units. Conclusion: Routine thromboprophylaxis for ICU patients in Australia and New Zealand is similar to Canada but different to France. Optimal thromboprophylaxis for ICU patients is currently unclear in the absence of randomized trial data.
AB - Purpose: Internationally, there is practice variation concerning optimal thromboprophylaxis for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The current practice in Australia and New Zealand is unknown. Method: We conducted a self-administered e-mail survey of 22 Australian and New Zealand ICUs expressing interest in participating in a proposed international randomized trial (PROphylaxis for ThromboEmbolism in Critical Care Trial). Results: Our response rate was 95.4% (95% CI, 77%-100%). Of participating ICUs, 90.5% (95% CI, 70%-99%) used subcutaneous unfractionated heparin for routine thromboprophylaxis in ICU patients. Low-molecular-weight heparin was reserved for specific high-risk patients in many units. Conclusion: Routine thromboprophylaxis for ICU patients in Australia and New Zealand is similar to Canada but different to France. Optimal thromboprophylaxis for ICU patients is currently unclear in the absence of randomized trial data.
KW - Deep venous thrombosis
KW - Intensive care unit
KW - Thromboprophylaxis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=28444489752&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcrc.2005.09.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jcrc.2005.09.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 16310607
AN - SCOPUS:28444489752
SN - 0883-9441
VL - 20
SP - 354
EP - 356
JO - Journal of Critical Care
JF - Journal of Critical Care
IS - 4
ER -