Background The Guideline for Prevention of Deep Venous Thromboembolism in Orthopedic Surgery, based on current European and American Guidelines, was introduced in late 2009 on the Orthopedic Surgery Ward, Emergency Centre, Belgrade.

Hospital pharmacists were actively involved in writing, and monitoring the implementation of, the guideline.

Purpose The first audit of implementation of the guideline was in March 2010. The aim was to show if all patients were receiving thromboprophylaxis according to the guideline; and whether thromboprophylaxis was being recommended for patients after discharge from hospital.

The aim of the repeat study was to estimate if there were differences in implementing the guideline.

Materials and Methods Monitoring of prescriptions for patients in hospital and recommendations for thromboprophylaxis on the discharge documentation.

This study covered the period from January to March 2012 and compared results with the same period in 2010.

Results 2010 year: Total number of patients 104; 97% of patients received the recommended anticoagulant treatment during hospitalisation, and 85% patients received the recommended anticoagulant treatment after hospitalisation.

2012 year: Total number of patients 143; 96.5% of patients received the recommended anticoagulant treatment during hospitalisation, and 91.5% of patients received the recommended anticoagulant treatment after hospitalisation.

Conclusions During the monitoring period 3% of patients did not receive the recommended thromboprophylaxis during hospitalisation in 2010, and 3.5% of patients in 2012.

By continuous monitoring of recommended thromboprophylaxis after release from hospital, it was concluded that 15% of patients failed to receive the recommended treatment in 2010, and 8.4% in 2012.

The repeat audit two years later showed a similar percentage of thromboprophylaxis prescribing during hospitalisation, and significant improvement in thromboprophylaxis recommendations at the discharge of patients from hospital.

No conflict of interest.