BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is effective in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in medical patients.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on medical inpatients at two academic hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario to investigate if patients received VTE prophylaxis as per current guidelines.

RESULTS: An analysis was performed on 762 patient charts and 170 met inclusion criteria for use of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. Of these, 91 (54%) received pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. In 63 patients with a contraindication to pharmacological VTE prophylaxis, 16 (25%) received non-pharmacological VTE prophylaxis.

CONCLUSION: The provision rate of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis in hospitalised medical patients who met pre-defined clinical criteria for prophylaxis was 54%. The rate of prophylaxis increased with additional VTE risk factors to a peak rate of 67%. There is room for the development of strategies to improve the use of VTE prophylaxis in hospitalised medical patients.