Administration of Enoxaparin in Hospitalized Burn Patients in North of Iran

Burn patients are at high risk for thromboembolic events. According to recent studies, in most burn patients, standard dosage of enoxaparin cannot be effective in preventing thromboembolic events. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the compliance of enoxaparin for the prevention of thromboembolic events in burn patients with the standard guidelines for management of burn in Sari Zare Hospital, Iran.

In this study, we reviewed the medical records of 61 burn patients admitted to Sari Zare Hospital for six consecutive months (2016) who had received enoxaparin. Prescribed dose and monitoring at the time of administration of enoxaparin were compared with standard guidelines for management of burn.

The mean age of patients was 47.37±15.6 and they were mainly male (73.8%). All patients received enoxaparin subcutaneously for prevention of thromboembolic events. Prophylactic dose was in accordance with recommended dose in 57.3% of the patients. Active anti-factor was not evaluated in any of the patients with body mass index (BMI) outside the normal range. The Platelet count was evaluated in all patients at the beginning and in 98% during the treatment. Drug interactions were reported in less than 10% of the patients with no side effects.

In most burn patients with normal BMI, the administered dose of prophylactic enoxaparin was not in accordance with the recommended dose. In patients out of normal range, the dose was not adjusted based on BMI. This could increase the risk of thromboembolic events or bleeding in these patients.