The inconsistent use of prophylactic measures for VTE in hospital patients has been widely reported. A UK survey suggested that 71% of patients assessed to be at medium or high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis did not receive any form of mechanical or pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. All patients to be assessed on admission to identify those who are at increased risk of VTE. Our audit objective was to find out any perioperative period in which patient was not on AES, if there was any. Consecutive 300 patients underwent Cardiac Surgery between August 2017 and December 2017 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham were included. Vast majority of the patients were found more than 5 days without AES. More wide use of VTE prophylaxis, early mobilization, and better perioperative care have reduced the incidence of VTE in surgical patients.

The House of Commons Health Committee reported in 2005 that an estimated 25,000 people in the UK die from preventable hospital acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) every year. This includes patients admitted to hospital for medical care and surgery. The inconsistent use of prophylactic measures for VTE in hospital patients has been widely reported. A UK survey suggested that 71% of patients assessed to be at medium or high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis did not receive any form of mechanical or pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. All patients to be assessed on admission to identify those who are at increased risk of VTE. All patients should be assessed for risk of bleeding before offering pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. Pharmacological VTE prophylaxis should not be offered to patients with any of the risk factors for bleeding (shown in box 1) unless the risk of VTE outweighs the risk of bleeding. Patients' risks of bleeding and VTE to be reassessed within 24 hours of admission and whenever the clinical situation changes, to ensure that the methods of VTE prophylaxis being used are suitable, used correctly and identify adverse events resulting from VTE prophylaxis.

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