Patients Missing Treatment
Reported June 06, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) Researchers say the majority of patients whove had hip and knee replacements arent receiving the medicine they need after surgery. Patients can develop blood clots, which is why guidelines recommend taking an antithrombotic drug following the procedure.
The study was led by researchers from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and McGill University. Study authors analyzed the records of more than 7,000 patients in Quebec who had hip and knee replacements. They found only 19 percent of them received antithrombotic treatment after surgery. The standard recommendation is treatment for at least 10 days and up to 35 days after surgery.
Study authors say the majority of hip and knee replacements are performed on elderly patients, who have a higher risk of blood clots. The risk of dying following the surgery is low, but it increases for patients who do not take antithrombotic drugs after leaving the hospital.
Researchers say this study shows the gap between official treatment guidelines and the clinical realities. They feel more research is needed to determine if antithrombotic medicine should be the standard treatment.
SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2008