AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS AMONG SURGEONS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS OF KHYBER PUKHTUNKHWA

Objective: To find out the awareness and practice of thromboprophylaxis among surgeons working inteaching hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Methodology: This was a descriptive study carried out in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Khyber TeachingHospital, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad. Consultants fromGeneral and Orthopaedic surgery in four teaching hospitals working as senior registrar or above gradeswere included in the study and were interviewed using proforma about use of thromboprophylaxis. Theresults were analysed using SPSS version 10.0.Results: A total of 48 consultants participated in this study. 20 of these were orthopaedic surgeons and 28were general surgeons. Thirty two (66.6%) of the consultants were using thromboprophylaxis but out ofthese, only 7 (22%) were following the national guide lines. Out of the 16 (33.4%) who were not usingthromboprophylaxis, 10 (62.5%) consultants had the impression that it is not necessary while 4 (25%)thought that it increased the risk of bleeding and 2 (12.5%) consultants had the impression that it isexpensive. Eight (16.7%) consultants said that they have departmental policy for thromboprophylaxis.Conclusion: Although majority of surgeons were using throboprophylaxis, however few were well versedabout the guidelines and very few were following these.