James S Millar1, Carlene Mm Lawes2, Bill Farrington3, Penny Andrew4, Peter Misur3, Eileen Merriman5, Matt Walker6. 1. Orthopaedic Registrar, Orthopaedic Department, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland. 2. Public Health Physician, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland. 3. Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland. 4. Director of the Institute for Innovation and Improvement, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland. 5. Consultant Haematologist/Lead Thrombosis Clinician, Department of Haematology, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland. 6. Clinical Director of Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland.
Abstract
AIM: The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery remains an important metric for quality and financial reasons. An audit at our institution between 2006-2010 showed a higher VTE rate than international data did at the time. This study aims to determine rates of DVT and PE in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery at Waitemata District Health Board (Waitemata DHB) between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of all VTE within three months of elective hip or knee replacement or hip fracture surgery. Data were identified for the period between 2013 and 2016 from Waitemata DHB patient databases, including a dedicated VTE database. RESULTS: The current rates of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) at our institution following hip or knee arthroplasty or hip fracture surgery are 1.5% and 0.6% respectively, a lower rate than 2.3% and 0.9% respectively in 2006-2010. DVTs were significantly more prevalent after hip fracture surgery than after elective hip or knee arthroplasty, and 71% of DVTs were confined to the distal veins. Of the patients undergoing surgery, 93% received post-operative chemoprophylaxis, mainly aspirin or low molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). CONCLUSION: There has been a significant reduction in VTE rates following elective hip and knee joint replacement and hip fracture surgery between the time periods. This occurred over a period when Waitemata DHB introduced a multi-modal, interdisciplinary team approach to VTE prophylaxis utilising enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways. These measures may therefore have contributed to the reduction in VTEs.
AIM: The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery remains an important metric for quality and financial reasons. An audit at our institution between 2006-2010 showed a higher VTE rate than international data did at the time. This study aims to determine rates of DVT and PE in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery at Waitemata District Health Board (Waitemata DHB) between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of all VTE within three months of elective hip or knee replacement or hip fracture surgery. Data were identified for the period between 2013 and 2016 from Waitemata DHBpatient databases, including a dedicated VTE database. RESULTS: The current rates of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) at our institution following hip or knee arthroplasty or hip fracture surgery are 1.5% and 0.6% respectively, a lower rate than 2.3% and 0.9% respectively in 2006-2010. DVTs were significantly more prevalent after hip fracture surgery than after elective hip or knee arthroplasty, and 71% of DVTs were confined to the distal veins. Of the patients undergoing surgery, 93% received post-operative chemoprophylaxis, mainly aspirin or low molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). CONCLUSION: There has been a significant reduction in VTE rates following elective hip and knee joint replacement and hip fracture surgery between the time periods. This occurred over a period when Waitemata DHB introduced a multi-modal, interdisciplinary team approach to VTE prophylaxis utilising enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways. These measures may therefore have contributed to the reduction in VTEs.