Key result
Only 1.5% of Medicare patients fill post-discharge VTE chemoprophylaxis prescriptions after open colorectal cancer surgery.
Why the study?
Postoperative venous thromboembolism remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after abdominal cancer surgery, but adherence to extended VTE chemoprophylaxis guidelines after colorectal cancer surgery is unclear.
Population
5078 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing open colorectal cancer resections in 2008–2009
Comparison
Postdischarge VTE chemoprophylaxis use vs no use
Design
Observational cohort study using Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data
Follow-up
Immediately after discharge
Authors
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Extremely low postdischarge VTE prophylaxis adherence after colorectal cancer surgery warrants attention; leaves open effective implementation strategies.
Observational (n=5,078)
Yes
Adherence to guideline-recommended postdischarge VTE chemoprophylaxis after colorectal cancer surgery is extremely low (1.5%) among Medicare beneficiaries.
Merkow et al. (2013) conducted an observational in Colorectal cancer surgery (n=5,078). Postdischarge VTE chemoprophylaxis vs. No postdischarge VTE chemoprophylaxis was evaluated on Filling a prescription for an anticoagulant immediately after discharge. Only 1.5% of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing open colorectal cancer surgery filled a prescription for an anticoagulant after discharge, indicating very low adherence to VTE chemoprophylaxis guidelines.
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