Improving Patient Care and Clinical Services: Compliance With the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis After Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Introduction Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is an integral part of post-operative management in trauma and orthopedic surgery. Post-operative VTE prophylaxis, especially in lower limb large joint arthroplasty (LLLJA), helps prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), both of which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We audited our practice against the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for prescribing VTE prophylaxis in post-operative patients who had undergone LLLJA at our hospital.

Improving the Safety of Tourniquet Use in a Trauma Theatre According to the British Orthopaedic Association Guidelines: A Closed Loop Audit.

Introduction Tourniquets are used widely in trauma and orthopaedic surgery to reduce blood loss and facilitate better visualisation of the operative field; however, some complications can result from improper use such as pressure sores, chemical burns, compartment syndrome, and deep vein thrombosis. We audited the use of intraoperative tourniquets in our trauma theatre against the guidance published by the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) in 2021. Methods This was a closed-loop audit evaluating 80 trauma operations that utilised tourniquets.