Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2003
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPrevention of venous thromboembolism in critically ill medical patients: a Franco-Canadian cross-sectional study.
Medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at moderate risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prophylaxis against VTE is recommended. ⋯ In this binational cross-sectional observational study of medical ICU patients, we found that 92% of eligible patients received either UFH or LWMH for VTE prophylaxis. Differences in prescribing between countries include significantly greater use of LMWH in France, but use of lower doses than in Canada, and greater use of mechanical VTE prophylaxis in Canada. More randomized trials of VTE prophylaxis in critically ill medical patients would better inform practice.