Venous thromboembolism ( VTE ) prophylaxis and urological pelvic cancer surgery: a UK national audit

Objectives To evaluate the use of post‐discharge venous thromboembolism ( VTE ) prophylaxis in UK pelvic cancer centres consistent with national guidelines. Methods Data was collected from healthcare professionals from 64 UK pelvic cancer centres. Results After radical cystectomy ( RC ), all cancer centres routinely use low‐molecular‐weight heparin ( LMWH ) in the perioperative period. After RC 67% of cancer centres use post‐discharge LMWH routinely. After radical prostatectomy ( RP ), 98% of units use perioperative LMWH VTE prophylaxis routinely. After RP , 61% of hospitals always use post‐discharge LMWH . In all, 27% of all UK cancer centres reported deaths or serious VTE complications from urological pelvic cancer surgery in the last 2 years. Conclusions The N ational I nstitute for H ealth and C are E xcellence ( NICE ) issued explicit guidance of VTE prophylaxis after pelvic and abdominal cancer surgery. Conversion of national guidance into local policy is ≈60% for UK pelvic cancer centres. A lack of good quality evidence is cited as a reason for not adhering to NICE guidance.