OBJECTIVE: To verify whether deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis is being correctly and routinely used at a teaching hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients on seven sectors at Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba (Hospital de Ensino) was performed from August 2004 to August 2005. For the deep venous thrombosis risk stratification of each patient, clinical and surgical factors were investigated, according to the protocol recommended by Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular. During the period, 216 medical charts were analyzed. Of these, 30 were from abdominal surgery, 30 from vascular surgery, 30 from urology, 31 from medical clinic, 31 from intensive care unit, 31 from orthopedics and 33 from obstetrics/gynecology. RESULTS: Out of the total number of patients, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis was performed in 57 (26%), considering that in 51 (89%) the procedure was correct and in six (11%) it did not follow the standard. The most used type of prophylaxis was drug treatment; 49 out of 57 patients used low-molecular-weight heparin. We also observed the use of elastic socks in five patients and early ambulation in seven. On the other hand, intermittent pneumatic compression was not used for any patient. CONCLUSION: According to the results and based on the protocol, we concluded that, during the period of the research, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, at Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba, was routinely and correctly performed in only 23.6% of the patients (51 out of 216).
Deep venous thrombosis; prophylaxis; thromboembolism
