All hospital patients to be screened for blood clots

Thousands of lives could be saved each year if all patients admitted to hospital were assessed for their risk of developing blood clots.

Each year, an estimated 25,000 people admitted to hospital die from preventable blood clots which can develop after surgery. Being immobile also increases a person's risk.

A type of blood clot which forms in leg veins - known as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - can be fatal if it breaks away and travels to the lungs causing a blockage.

New guidelines on preventing blood clots in hospital patients, published today by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), recommends that all patients be assessed for their risk of developing blood clots on admission to hospital, not just those undergoing surgery.

The assessments will take into account the patient's age, weight, pre-existing medical conditions, length of stay in hospital and type of medical procedure. Specific guidelines have been drawn up for pregnant women.

If the assessment finds that a patient is at higher risk of blood clots developing, they can then be given preventative treatment tailored to their individual needs, including blood-thinning drugs and anti-embolism stockings.

John Black, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the college supported the guideline "whole-heartedly.”

Dr Tom Treasure, Professor of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, who chaired the NICE guideline group, said: "All patients without exception should be assessed on being admitted to hospital for risk of developing a blood clot, and then given preventative treatment that is appropriate for them.

"VTE (blood clots) is a silent killer – so it’s the responsibility of medical professionals to take the very simple steps set out in the guideline which can help prevent unnecessary deaths and long term illnesses.”

This article was published on Wed 27 January 2010