Objective: To verify whether deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis is being correctly and routinely used at a teaching hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients on seven sectors at Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba (Hospital de Ensino) was performed from August 2004 to August 2005. For the deep venous thrombosis risk stratification of each patient, clinical and surgical factors were investigated, according to the protocol recommended by Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e de Cirurgia Vascular. During the period, 216 medical charts were analyzed. Of these, 30 were from abdominal surgery, 30 from vascular surgery, 30 from urology, 31 from medical clinic, 31 from intensive care unit, 31 from orthopedics and 33 from obstetrics/gynecology.Results: Out of the total number of patients, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis was performed in 57 (26%), considering that in 51 (89%) the procedure was correct and in six (11%) it did not follow the standard. The most used type of prophylaxis was drug treatment; 49 out of 57 patients used low-molecular-weight heparin. We also observed the use of elastic socks in five patients and early ambulation in seven. On the other hand, intermittent pneumatic compression was not used for any patient.Conclusion: According to the results and based on the protocol, we concluded that, during the period of the research, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, at Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba, was routinely and correctly performed in only 23.6% of the patients (51 out of 216).Key words: Deep venous thrombosis, prophylaxis, thromboembolism. ResumoObjetivo: Verificar se a profilaxia da trombose venosa profunda está sendo utilizada de maneira correta e rotineira em um hospital de ensino. Resultados: Do total de pacientes, foi efetuada profilaxia para trombose venosa profunda em 57 (26%), sendo que, em 51 (89%), a execução foi de maneira correta e, em 6 (11%), não-preconizada. O método profilático mais utilizado foi o medicamentoso; 49 de 57 pacientes fizeram uso de heparina de baixo peso molecular. Também foi verificada a utilização de meias elásticas em cinco pacientes e deambulação precoce em sete. Já a compressão pneumática intermitente não foi utilizada em nenhum deles. Métodos e casuística: Foi realizado um estudo transversal de pacientes internados em sete setores (enfermarias) do ConjuntoConclusão: De acordo com os resultados e com base no protocolo, concluiu-se que, no período da pesquisa, a profilaxia para trombose venosa profunda, no Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba, foi executada rotineiramente e de forma adequada em apenas 23,6% (51 do total de 216 pacientes). Palavras-chave:Trombose venosa profunda, profilaxia, tromboembolismo.ARTIGO ORIGINAL

Introduction In most ear, nose, and throat services, it is routine to send the material extracted from tonsillectomy for histologic study to research malignancy, to analyze suspect material, or to provide medical-legal documentation. Recent studies have shown that this routine analysis is dispensable. Objective To evaluate the actual need and perform a cost–benefit analysis of routine histopathologic examination in tonsillectomy with no signs or symptoms of malignancy. Methods A retrospective observational study evaluated the charts of patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenoidectomy from January 2008 to September 2009 at the Institute of Otorhinolaryngology CEMA-SP. Costs of this test for the public health system were analyzed and the literature reviewed. Results We studied 281 patients between 2 and 22 years of age; 142 (50.5%) were male and 139 (49.5%) were female. Of the surgeries, 201 were adenotonsillectomies (71.5%), 41 were tonsillectomies (14.5%), and 39 were adenoidectomies (14%). The most common indication for surgery was recurrent infection (63.3%). None of study patients had clinical suspicion of malignancy. The tests showed a cost of R$20.03 per tonsil analyzed. Conclusion Routine histopathologic examination in patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy with no signs or symptoms of malignancy is dispensable and increases the cost of the surgeries.