Use of thromboprophylaxis in palliative care patients: a survey among experts in palliative care, oncology, intensive care, and anticoagulation.

Study-based guidelines on thromboprophylaxis are not available for palliative care patients. The authors asked a panel of academic medical experts in palliative care, oncology, blood coagulation, and intensive care to select a prophylactic regimen out of 5 predefined options for a virtual patient with advanced bronchial cancer in different clinical settings. Primary prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism was withdrawn by all physicians when the patient had a Karnovsky's index of 10 and was described as dying. It was given by 25% of physicians when the patient had a Karnovsky's index of 20 and by 85% when Karnovsky's index 40 was still 40. Similar results were obtained in the situation of secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism and when the patient was described as having a history of chronic atrial fibrillation. This data clearly show that thromboprophylaxis is delivered according to a compound estimate of risks and benefits of such prophylaxis in a specific palliative care situation.