Anna D. Garrett, PharmD, BCPS, CPP
Dr. Garrett is a clinical pharmacist practitioner at Cornerstone Health Care in High Point, NC.
COALITION SPONSORS DVT AWARENESS MONTH
National thought leaders and representatives from key organizations, including
the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Public Health Association,
and the Society of Hospital Medicine met several years ago to set and guide the
direction of the Coalition to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). A key outcome of
this meeting was the decision to sponsor DVT Awareness Month, a campaign to
bring DVT into the public eye on a national and local level. The inaugural DVT
Awareness Month was March 2004, and March is now officially designated as DVT
Awareness Month.
To date, >50 organizations have joined the Coalition to Prevent DVT in a united
effort to raise DVT awareness among patients, health care professionals, policy makers,
and public health leaders. According to the American Heart Association, up to 2
million Americans are affected annually by DVT. Of those who develop pulmonary
embolism (PE), up to 200,000 will die each year. More Americans die annually from
DVT/PE than from breast cancer and AIDS combined.
For more information, visit www.preventdvt.org.
ASCO RELEASES GUIDELINES FOR CLOT PREVENTION IN CANCER PATIENTS
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has developed
guidelines for the use of anticoagulation in the prevention
and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with
cancer. Based on a systematic review of randomized, controlled
trials of primary and secondary VTE medical and surgical prophylaxis,
VTE treatment, and the impact of anticoagulation on cancerpatient
survival, the recommendations include:
- VTE prophylaxis for all hospitalized cancer patients in the absence of bleeding risk factors or other contraindications
- No routine prophylaxis of ambulatory cancer patients with anticoagulation unless
they are receiving thalidomide or lenalidomide
- Patients undergoing major surgery for malignancy should be considered for pharmacologic
thromboprophylaxis
- Use of low-molecular-weight heparin as the preferred agent for initial and continuing
treatment of cancer patients with established VTE
- Additional study of the impact of anticoagulants on patient survival
For full publication, visit jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/Full/25/34/5490.
MARKETING OF TRASYLOL IS SUSPENDED
The FDA announced that Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp. has agreed to a marketing
suspension of Trasylol (aprotinin injection), a drug used to control bleeding during
heart surgery. This announcement came after preliminary results from a Canadian
study suggested an increased risk of death when the drug was used.
The FDA requested the suspension in the interest of patient safety, based on the
serious nature of the outcomes suggested in the preliminary data. A thorough analysis
of the data will be conducted to further assess the risks and benefits of Trasylol.
The FDA is exploring ways for doctors to continue to have limited access to Trasylol
for cases where the benefits outweigh the risks of use. Bayer will develop a plan to
phase the drug out of the marketplace in a way that does not cause shortages of
other drugs that are used for cardiac surgery.
JCAHO TARGETS ANTICOAGULATION SAFETY IN 2008
The Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO) is targeting anticoagulation
safety in its 2008 list of
Hospital National Patient Safety
Goals. Institutions will be required to:
- Develop a program that includes
individualized anticoagulation management
for each patient receiving
anticoagulant therapy
- Use unit-dose products and premixed
infusions delivered via programmable
infusion pumps
- Use approved, disease-specific
protocols for initiation and maintenance
of anticoagulation therapy
- Obtain baseline international normalized
ratios for all patients
receiving warfarin
- Provide dietary services for warfarin
patients
- Provide adequate patient and family
education
- Evaluate safety practices related
to anticoagulation
JCAHO established 4 deadlines:
- April 1, 2008—Assignment of responsibility
for program oversight
and coordination of the development,
testing, and implementation
of the program
- July 1, 2008—An implementation
work plan, identifying adequate resources,
assigned accountabilities,
and a timeline for implementation
- October 1, 2008—Pilot testing in
at least 1 clinical unit
- January 1, 2009—The process
must be fully implemented
A resource for program development
is available online at: www.ashp.org/s_ashp/sec_detail.asp?CID=1473&DID=6720.
