The underutilization of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in medical patients

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), long been recognized as a preventable complication of hospitalization, is becoming more widely recognized as a risk for both medical and surgical patients. Recommendations exist for VTE prophylaxis (PPX) in medical patients, but current research shows that the utilization of these guidelines is suboptimal. The rates of VTE PPX are lower than recommended rates, and in those patients receiving PPX, the type, dosage, or duration is not in accordance with recognized recommendations. The recommendations and protocols for medical patients that are currently available should be followed, and as new research is developed and reviewed, current practice should be changed to reflect it. The clinical nurse specialist is in a unique position to assimilate the current recommendations into practice and to enhance patient care by virtue of having multiple spheres of influence, capable of influencing institution policy, patient, family, nurse, and physician education, and direct patient care. The VTE PPX is not overused, but underused, and institutions, physicians, and nurses all need to be cognizant of patient risk for VTE with the need to treat prophylactically and initiate PPX according to the American College of Chest Physicians guidelines.     

Venous thromboembolism in trauma: an update for the intensive care unit practitioner

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in trauma patients is a capricious problem that continues to plague trauma surgeons and critical care physicians alike. Pharmacologic preventions of VTE with anticoagulants are often contraindicated in the trauma patient because of risk of bleeding diathesis. Mechanical prophylaxis in the form of venous compression boots often cannot be placed because of external fixators, swelling, and so forth. Providing effective VTE prophylaxis, while at the same time providing definitive care for the trauma patient, can be a nightmare. This review will first discuss the incidence and prevalence of VTE, as well as investigate the condition's diagnosis and treatment. Solutions to frequently encountered clinical dilemmas in managing VTE in trauma patients are considered in the form of frequently asked questions. Diagnostic techniques such as magnetic resonance venography, D-dimer, and various computed tomography methods are evaluated. Recent literature on preventive pharmacologic therapies is explored. The authors also consider whether vena cava filters prevent pulmonary embolism in trauma patients.     

Venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer. Part I. Survey of oncology nurses' attitudes and treatment practices for ambulatory settings

Patients with cancer have a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Little information currently exists on VTE and the understanding and beliefs of oncology nurses. Therefore, the attitudes and treatment practices of ambulatory oncology nurses were surveyed to determine the current knowledge base of VTE in patients with cancer. Survey results are presented along with a thorough literature review of thromboembolism and the unique risk factors for this frequent complication in patients with cancer. The causes of VTE in this patient population often are multifactorial and include hypercoagulability, stasis, and vascular endothelial damage from procedures or the neoplastic process itself. In particular, chemotherapy administration can increase the risk of thrombosis considerably. New therapies, including thalidomide, require oncology nurses caring for these patients to have heightened awareness of the potential for thrombogenic complications. This is the first of two articles that address the problem of thromboembolism in patients with cancer, including the survey results. (See part II on page 465.) Oncology nurses are essential in the care of VTE in patients with cancer and can help with patient identification, treatment, and compliance for improved patient outcomes.     

Risk of venous thromboembolism and primary prophylaxis in cancer. Should all patients receive thromboprophylaxis?

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients with cancer that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Several patient-, tumour- and treatment-related risk factors for VTE in cancer patients have been identified. An effective and safe thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients at high risk of VTE is desirable. Recently, the identification of potential biomarkers and the development of risk scoring models for prediction of cancer-associated VTE have been published. Whether primary VTE prophylaxis based on risk assessment through these biomarkers and risk prediction models might be useful, is currently not yet known. However, thromboprophylaxis is clearly indicated in high-risk situations. While VTE prophylaxis is recommended in cancer patients undergoing surgery and in hospitalised patients with acute disease, studies in ambulatory cancer patients are still rare and evidence for primary VTE prophylaxis is currently limited. In this review, risk factors associated with VTE in cancer patients and current approaches of thromboprophylaxis in different settings, specifically in ambulatory cancer patients are subjected to a critical evaluation.     

Accuracy of Very Low Pretest Probability Estimates for Pulmonary Embolism Using the Method of Attribute Matching Compared with the Wells Score

Objectives: Attribute matching matches an explicit clinical profile of a patient to a reference database to estimate the numeric value for the pretest probability of an acute disease. The authors tested the accuracy of this method for forecasting a very low probability of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in symptomatic emergency department (ED) patients. Methods: The authors performed a secondary analysis of five data sets from 15 hospitals in three countries. All patients had data collected at the time of clinical evaluation for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). The criterion standard to exclude VTE required no evidence of PE or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) within 45 days of enrollment. To estimate pretest probabilities, a computer program selected, from a large reference database of patients previously evaluated for PE, patients who matched 10 predictor variables recorded for each current test patient. The authors compared the outcome frequency of having VTE [VTE(+)] in patients with a pretest probability estimate of <2.5% by attribute matching, compared with a value of 0 from the Wells score. Results: The five data sets included 10,734 patients, and 747 (7.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.5% to 7.5%) were VTE(+) within 45 days. The pretest probability estimate for PE was <2.5% in 2,975 of 10,734 (27.7%) patients, and within this subset, the observed frequency of VTE(+) was 48 of 2,975 (1.6%, 95% CI = 1.2% to 2.1%). The lowest possible Wells score (0) was observed in 3,412 (31.7%) patients, and within this subset, the observed frequency of VTE(+) was 79 of 3,412 (2.3%, 95% CI = 1.8% to 2.9%) patients. Conclusions: Attribute matching categorizes over one‐quarter of patients tested for PE as having a pretest probability of <2.5%, and the observed rate of VTE within 45 days in this subset was <2.5%. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:133–141 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine     

Rates of venous thromboembolism in multiple myeloma patients undergoing immunomodulatory therapy with thalidomide or lenalidomide: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Summary. Introduction: The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with thalidomide‐ and lenalidomide‐based regimens is high. Recent observational studies have suggested that thromboprophylaxis might be efficacious in decreasing the risk of VTE in this population. Purpose: To determine the absolute rates of VTE with and without different thromboprophylactic agents in patients with newly diagnosed or previously treated MM receiving thalidomide‐ or lenalidomide‐based regimens. Results: Patients with newly diagnosed MM treated with thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone have a VTE risk of 4.1 (95% CI, 2.8–5.9) per 100 patient‐cycles. Therapeutic doses of anticoagulants seem to provide the largest absolute risk reduction of VTE. The rate of VTE in patients with previously treated MM receiving thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone is 0.8 (95% CI, 0.1–2.1) per 100 patient‐months. A combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone is associated with of risk of VTE of 0.8 (95% CI, 0.07–2.0) per 100 patient‐cycles and 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4–0.9) per 100 patient‐cycles in patients with newly diagnosed and previously treated MM, respectively. Similarly, the rates of VTE in patients also receiving thromboprophylaxis with aspirin were 0.9 (95% CI, 0.5–1.5) and 0.6 (95% CI, 0.01–2.1), respectively. Conclusion: Patients with newly diagnosed or previously treated MM receiving thalidomide‐ or lenalidomide‐based regimens in combination with dexamethasone are at high risk of VTE. The benefit of various types of thromboprophylaxis is difficult to quantify in patients with MM receiving immunomodulatory therapy, especially in those receiving lenalidomide‐based therapy or who have previously treated MM. Randomized controlled trials are needed to address this important clinical need.     

Epidemiology, risk and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in cancer

Cancer is associated with a fourfold increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The risk of VTE varies according to the type of malignancy (i. e. pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, lymphoma) and its disease stage and individual factors (i. e. sex, race, age, previous VTE history, immobilization, obesity). Preventing cancer-associated VTE is important because it represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In order to identify cancer patient at particularly high risk, who need thromboprophylaxis, risk prediction models have become available and are under validation. These models include clinical risk factors, but also begin to incorporate biological markers. The major American and European scientific societies have issued their recommendations to guide the management of VTE in patients with cancer. In this review the principal aspects of epidemiology, risk factors and outcome of cancer-associated VTE are summarized.     

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in critically ill patients

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent but often silent complication of critical illness that has a negative impact on patient outcomes. The prevention of VTE is an essential component of patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, and is the focus of this article. The use of anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis significantly decreases the risk of VTE in ICU patients and is discussed at length.     

Clinically important venous thromboembolism in pediatric critical care: a Canadian survey

PURPOSE: Pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE) is becoming an increasingly recognized morbidity associated with critical illness. The objective of this survey is to identify the patient factors and radiological features that pediatric intensivists consider more or less likely to make a venous thrombosis (VTE) clinically important in their patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our definition of clinically important VTE was a VTE likely to result in short- or long-term morbidity or mortality if left untreated. We asked respondents to rate the likelihood that patient factors and radiological features make a venous thrombosis clinically important using a 5-point scale (1 = much less likely to 5 = much more likely). RESULTS: The 38 (58.5%) of 65 pediatric intensivists responding rated 4 patient factors as most likely to make a VTE clinically important: clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism (mean score, 4.8), symptoms (mean, 4.5), detection by physical exam (mean, 4.4), and the presence of an acute or chronic cardiopulmonary comorbidity that might limit a patient's ability to tolerate pulmonary embolism (mean, 4.3). Of the radiological features, the 2 considered most important were VTE involving the vena cava extending into the right atrium (mean, 5) and central veins (mean, 4.5). CONCLUSIONS: When labeling a VTE as clinically important, pediatric intensivists rely on several specific patient factors and thrombus characteristics.     

住院患者静脉血栓栓塞症的风险评估:护理的价值

静脉血栓栓塞症(VTE)是住院患者常见的并发症之一,住院患者可能存在VTE高危因素。护理作为VTE防治的重要组成部分,护士应准确识别危险因素、及时正确进行VTE风险评估,采取恰当的预防措施对预防VTE意义重大。     

Combined computed tomography venography and pulmonary angiography for the diagnosis PE and DVT in the ED

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of combined computed tomography venography and pulmonary angiography (CTVPA) in the diagnosis of venous thromboembolic (VTE) disease in the emergency department (ED). CTVPA images and clinical data of 73 nonselected patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were retrospectively assessed. CTVPA correctly identified 33 of 34 patients with VTE disease, including 7 patients with PE alone, 11 patients with DVT alone, and 16 patients with both PE and DVT. Among the 27 patients with DVT, CTVPA disclosed thrombosis involving the abdominal and pelvic veins in 4 patients, and isolating to the inferior vena cava and iliac vein in one patient. CTVPA showed high accuracy in the diagnosis of both PE and DVT, in comparison with lower extremity venous sonography and ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy. In 26 (66%) of the 39 patients without of evidence VTE, CTVPA provided important ancillary information that suggests additional or alternative diagnoses. CTVPA is therefore an appropriate single diagnostic tool for evaluation VTE disease in the ED.     

Venous thromboembolic prophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients

BACKGROUND: The risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in medical patients is similar to that in moderate-risk surgery patients. Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is recommended for certain medical patients, but its use in clinical practice is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether medically ill patients with established risk factors receive pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis and determine whether prescribed regimens are consistent with current evidence and published recommendations. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 100 patients admitted to a hospital medicine service was conducted. Patients who were >40 years of age and admitted for congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or respiratory infection were considered appropriate candidates for VTE prophylaxis if they had no documented bleeding risk factors. Patients considered at increased risk of bleeding included those with documented uncontrolled hypertension, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, or recent gastrointestinal bleeding. Prescribed regimens were evaluated to determine whether they were consistent with regimens proven in clinical trials to be effective and safe. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of the patients with established VTE risk factors and no documented risk factors for bleeding were prescribed pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. An established regimen was prescribed in only 19% of those receiving prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant underutilization of VTE prophylaxis in this patient population. Patients are not adequately assessed for bleeding risk factors, and a portion of prescribed regimens are not those that have been established in the literature. Expert consensus statements recommend that hospitals develop strategies to prevent VTE events in their patients. Strategies to improve patient screening and physicians' prescribing habits are needed.     

Venous thromboembolism and gliomas: the need for increased vigilance

Brain tumors, particularly malignant gliomas, have a high incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but current guidelines do not support primary VTE prophylaxis for ambulatory patients with brain tumors. The often subtle presentation of VTE warrants increased vigilance for early diagnosis and treatment. This article presents a case study of a patient with VTE and offers suggestions for future research.     

Evidence for the prevention of venous thromboembolism

Patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery are at high risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE is preventable and venous prophylaxis consensus groups recommend that each patient is assessed for risk of VTE and then stratified into one of the three categories of risk. Rick stratification enables the choice of the most appropriate preventative interventions. This article examines a decision making framework for VTE prevention with particular focus on a validated risk assessment model (RAM) to facilitate risk stratification. The relevant literature is also scrutinised in terms of the best venous antithrombotic strategies, for patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery, according to scientific evidence.     

Venous thromboembolism knowledge among older post-hip fracture patients and their caregivers

Patient education about venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention is needed to prevent complications and costly re-hospitalization. Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide vital education as patients transition from the inpatient setting to after discharge. Still, little is known about patient knowledge deficits and those of their caregivers. The purpose of this study was to explore VTE prevention knowledge in a sample of older hip fracture patients and family caregivers. At the time of hospital discharge, surveys were completed by hip fracture surgery patients (≥65; n = 30) and family caregivers (n = 30). Participants reported needs for more prophylactic anticoagulation and side effects education. Mean education satisfaction was 3.49 out of 5 among patients and 3.83 among caregivers. Focused patient education regarding the wisdom of VTE prevention, potential risks involved, and patient and caregiver roles in advocating for better prevention measures is needed for these patients at risk for hospital readmission secondary to VTE.     

Creation and validation of a simple venous thromboembolism risk scoring tool for thermally injured patients: analysis of the National Burn Repository

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been identified as a major patient safety issue. The authors report their use of the National Burn Repository (NBR) to create and validate a weighted risk scoring system for VTE. Adult patients with thermal injury from the NBR admitted between 1995 and 2009 were included. Independent variables were either known or could be derived at the time of admission, including TBSA burned, inhalation injury, gender, and age. The dependent variable was VTE, a composite variable of patients with deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolus. The dataset was split into working and validation sets using a random number generator. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors. β-coefficients for independent predictors were used to generate a weighted risk score. The NBR contained 22,618 patients who met inclusion criteria. The working and validation sets were not statistically different for demographics or risk factors. In the working set, the presence of inhalation injury and increased TBSA were independent predictors of VTE. Adjusted β-coefficients were used to generate a weighted risk score, which showed excellent discrimination for VTE in both the working (c-statistic 0.774) and the validation (c-statistic 0.750) sets. As risk score increased, a linear increase in observed VTE rate was demonstrated in both working and validation sets. The authors have created and validated a simple risk score model to predict VTE risk in thermally injured patients using the NBR. The model is based on risk factors that are easily identified during initial patient contact.     

Venous Thromboembolic Events in the Rehabilitation Setting

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease entity that encompasses both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. During the past decade there have been significant advances in the understanding of prophylaxis and treatment of VTE. There is an extensive research base from which conclusions can be drawn, but the heterogeneity within the rehabilitation patient population makes the development of rigid VTE protocols challenging and overwhelming for the busy clinician. Given the prevalence of this condition and its associated morbidity and mortality, we review the evidence for the prevention, identification, and optimal treatment of VTE in the rehabilitation population. Our goal is to highlight studies that have the most clinical applicability for the care of VTE patients from a physiatrist's perspective. At times, information about acute care protocols is included in our discussion because these situations are encountered during the consultation process that identifies patients for rehabilitation needs.     

Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in the US: improving hospital performance

Summary.  Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention has been recognized as the most important practice for improving patient safety in hospitals. To be effective, VTE prophylaxis must be appropriately prescribed with respect to type, dose and duration. Large-scale studies of medical discharge records have highlighted low rates of appropriate thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients, especially those with cancer or severe lung disease. Lack of prophylaxis and an insufficient duration are the most common forms of inappropriate prophylaxis. Multifaceted, active, quality improvement initiatives have been developed and shown to successfully increase the appropriate prescribing of VTE prophylaxis in patients at risk. By increasing the use of appropriate VTE prophylaxis in at-risk patients, the disease burden of hospital-acquired VTE and its resulting complications can be reduced.     

Current and emerging options in the management of venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease whose diagnosis is challenging. The best diagnostic approaches combine the patient's pretest clinical probability of disease with D-dimer testing and/or diagnostic imaging. In light of several advantages, low-molecular-weight heparins are now recommended over unfractionated heparin for most patients with acute VTE. Newer anticoagulants such as the factor Xa inhibitor fondaparinux also show promise for acute VTE. For chronic management, the duration and intensity of warfarin therapy should be tailored to the individual patient.     

Diagnosis of venous thromboembolism. Step-by-step approach to a still lethal disease

Rapid diagnosis of VTE is vital in reducing the significant morbidity and mortality rates associated with this disease. Although angiographic studies remain the "gold standard" for diagnosis, many noninvasive diagnostic procedures are available and are appropriate for evaluation in clinically stable patients. The algorithm presented in this article facilitates the practical and efficient use of available resources in diagnosing and treating VTE.