PROPHYLAXIS FOR VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM IN HEAD AND NECK-SURGERY - THEPRACTICE OF OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are an import ant cause of morbidity and mortality in the surgical patient. The firs t guideline produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Networ k was for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism. Patients undergoi ng major head and neck cancer surgery commonly exhibit risk factors fo r venous thromboembolism. Currently, however, there are no data on its incidence in these patients. A questionnaire survey was performed to assess the current practice of consultant otolaryngologists regarding DVT prophylaxis in patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery. O f those respondents who managed these patients, 57 per cent did not us e routine DVT prophylaxis while 43 per cent did. A wide variety of tec hniques were employed among those practising DVT prophylaxis. A consen sus is needed concerning the use of thromboembolism prophylaxis in hea d and neck surgery patients.