Knowledge and practice of prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis: A survey among Nigerian surgeons

Background: Venous thromboembolism is a potentially dangerous condition that can lead to preventable morbidity and mortality among surgical patients. Objectives: We aimed to determine the knowledge and practice of surgeons practising in Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria about prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Materials and Methods: Eight Tertiary Institutions were selected from institutions in the geopolitical regions of the country by simple random sampling using balloting method. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered, and the response was obtained from 105 out of 254 surgeons. Results: The mean knowledge score was 5.81 1.67, and only 33.3% have good knowledge about DVT prophylaxis. No statistical difference was observed between the different groups of surgeons. The mean practice score was 5.19 1.8 and only 20% of surgeons have a good practice of DVT prophylaxis. The majority (90.5%) have encountered DVT whereas 83.5% have encountered pulmonary embolism in their practice. Most commonly encountered risk factors include prolonged immobility, advanced age, and pelvic surgery. Only 13.3% have used Well's score in the clinical evaluation of their patients. The prophylactic modality adopted varies, but most surgeons (77%) utilized both the pharmacological and mechanical methods. Low molecular weight heparin is the commonly used chemoprophylactic agent while a combination of early ambulation and limb physiotherapy is the most commonly preferred mechanical method of thromboprophylaxis. Conclusion: There is a deficiency in the knowledge and practice of DVT prophylaxis among surgeons in Nigeria. There is a need to improve both the knowledge and practice by introducing institutional guidelines or protocol for DVT prophylaxis for surgical patients.