Anti-embolic stockings (AES) for cardiac surgery patients in the perioperative period.

The inconsistent use of prophylactic measures for VTE in hospital patients has been widely reported. A UK survey suggested that 71% of patients assessed to be at medium or high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis did not receive any form of mechanical or pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. All patients to be assessed on admission to identify those who are at increased risk of VTE. Our audit objective was to find out any perioperative period in which patient was not on AES, if there was any. Consecutive 300 patients underwent Cardiac Surgery between August 2017 and December 2017 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham were included. Vast majority of the patients were found more than 5 days without AES. More wide use of VTE prophylaxis, early mobilization, and better perioperative care have reduced the incidence of VTE in surgical patients. Keywords: Anti-embolic Stockings, Cardiac surgery.