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Objectives: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potential preventable complication of surgery which can result in higher morbidity and cost. VTE risk assessment preoperatively can help stratify high risk patients in order to properly administer VTE prophylaxis. A simple, modified risk assessment tool was developed based on the ACS NSQIP Best Practice Guidelines. The simplicity of this modified tool supports it’s consistent and efficient application within the perioperative setting.
Methods: The modified risk assessment tool was developed based upon the ACS NSQIP Best Practice Guidelines. A comparative application of both tools was conducted on 1,002 patients from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Database between the dates of 3/2010 to 8/2011. Inclusion criteria followed the ACS NSQIP multi-specialty requirements. Analysis of total VTE score from both tools was conducted.
Results: Of the 1,002 patients, 11 (1.09%) had a score on the VTE risk assessment tool that differed from the ACS NSQIP Best Practice Guidelines. One patient (0.1%) had a score difference which would require a change in VTE prophylaxis. Statistically, there was no difference in score results between the ACS NSQIP Best Practice Guidelines and our VTE risk assessment tool.
Conclusion: Our modified VTE risk assessment tool is equally as sensitive as compared to the ACS NSQIP Best Practice Guidelines in scoring VTE risk and is a valid risk assessment tool.