Instituting Change in Blood Clot Prophylaxis Protocol for Perioperative Patients
Author
Searcy, Katherine
Abstract
Perioperative blood clots are a common, preventable occurrence in the healthcare setting. Patients
undergoing surgery are at high risk for developing a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary
embolus (PE) for a variety of reasons. Mechanical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis
using either sequential compression devices or compression stockings has been shown to be
effective at preventing blood clots in this patient population. However, compliance with these
devices can be hard to achieve. The purpose of this project was to implement a series of changes
in mechanical VTE prophylaxis protocols, with a goal of decreasing the number of perioperative
blood clots at a small, rural hospital in eastern North Carolina. Interventions were implemented
over a 12-week period consisting of six Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle reviews. Although staff
rated themselves as more knowledgeable and confident about blood clots and mechanical VTE
prophylaxis after education, mechanical VTE compliance rates did not significantly increase. No
blood clots were found during the implementation period. There are several implications from
these findings for healthcare systems, including decreased harm to the patient population and
decreased costs for healthcare organizations.
Subject
Date
2022-04-22
Citation:
APA:
Searcy, Katherine.
(April 2022).
Instituting Change in Blood Clot Prophylaxis Protocol for Perioperative Patients
(DNP Scholarly Project, East Carolina University). Retrieved from the Scholarship.
(http://hdl.handle.net/10342/10570.)
MLA:
Searcy, Katherine.
Instituting Change in Blood Clot Prophylaxis Protocol for Perioperative Patients.
DNP Scholarly Project. East Carolina University,
April 2022. The Scholarship.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/10570.
May 28, 2024.
Chicago:
Searcy, Katherine,
“Instituting Change in Blood Clot Prophylaxis Protocol for Perioperative Patients”
(DNP Scholarly Project., East Carolina University,
April 2022).
AMA:
Searcy, Katherine.
Instituting Change in Blood Clot Prophylaxis Protocol for Perioperative Patients
[DNP Scholarly Project]. Greenville, NC: East Carolina University;
April 2022.
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