Evaluation of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in cancer patients: A retrospective study

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients. This retrospective study included 100 adult patients of different ages and genders who applied to the University Hospital between January and November 2021, who were diagnosed with cancer, admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and received chemotherapy. The patients were evaluated by clinical pharmacists during their ICU hospital stay in accordance with recommendations from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the International Society for Thrombosis and Homeostasis Recommendations. Anticoagulant prophylaxis was indicated in all of our patients (100 patients) admitted to the ICU, and 38 (38%) of our patients received anticoagulant prophylaxis during their hospital stay. Enoxaparin sodium was the preferred anticoagulant drug for 38 patients. During outpatient cancer treatment of patients, 27 of our 100 patients had a Khorana risk score greater than 2 and these patients were recommended to receive prophylactic anticoagulant therapy during outpatient treatment. Results of this study showed that, oncology team members should be educated about factors that significantly increase VTE risk, and there is an urgent need to improve VTE awareness and practice of thromboprophylaxis in clinical practice.