Deep venous thrombosis. Implications after open heart surgery

We reviewed the cases of 10,638 cardiac surgical patients to determine the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after open heart surgery (OHS). Seventy-seven patients (0.7 percent) had DVT. Group 1 included 36 patients who had DVT without pulmonary embolism (PE). Occurrence was equal in either leg. Anticoagulation with heparin and warfarin sodium (Coumadin) was employed as treatment. Extension of hospital stay was 10.8 days. Group 2 consisted of 41 patients who experienced PE 9.9 days after OHS. Sixteen patients had known DVT and were receiving heparin. In 25 patients, PE was the first event. Risk factors for PE included perioperative myocardial infarction (16 percent), atrial fibrillation (41 percent); blood type A (70 percent) (p less than 0.05), and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (98 percent). Twenty-four patients were treated with anti-coagulation alone. Six died of recurrent PE; mortality was 25 percent. Seventeen patients received anticoagulation plus inferior vena cava (IVC) interruption using a Hunter balloon. There were no recurrent PEs and there was one death from myocardial infarction (6 percent). Deep vein thrombosis and PE are rare complications of OHS. Routine prophylaxis with either heparin or warfarin is unnecessary. Patients with DVT, atrial fibrillation (AF), and perioperative myocardial infarction are at high risk of PE. Aggressive diagnosis to identify major venous thrombi along with anticoagulation and early consideration of IVC interruption are recommended for these patients. Patients who have undergone OHS and who have PE are at an unusually high risk for recurrent PE with death and are more safely treated with IVC interruption and anticoagulation than anticoagulation alone.     

A case of pulmonary thromboembolism in active ulcerative colitis]

Thromboembolic disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The reported incidence is 1-6%. The most common thromboembolic complications are deep venous thrombosis of legs and pulmonary thromboembolism. Cerebral thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, retinal venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis were also reported. We experienced a case of ulcerative colitis complicated with pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient was a 70-year-old woman who was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis on colonoscopy. We used prednisolone and sulfasalazine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Twenty five days later, she complained of abrupt dyspnea and chest pain. Chest CT and ventilation-perfusion scan revealed a thromboembolism in both lung. After the treatment of heparin & warfarin therapy, follow-up chest CT showed much regressed pulmonary thromboembolism. We report a 70-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis complicated with pulmonary thromboembolism and treated with heparin & warfarin therapy successfully.     

Antithrombotic therapy practices in US hospitals in an era of practice guidelines

BACKGROUND: Antithrombotic therapy is efficacious for the prevention of thromboembolic disease, but it necessitates careful risk-benefit assessment. METHODS: Antithrombotic therapy data were retrospectively collected from inpatient medical records at 38 US hospitals. Patients treated for atrial fibrillation, acute myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism and patients given prophylaxis for total knee replacement, total hip replacement, or hip fracture surgery between July 1, 2000, and June 30, 2003, were randomly selected. RESULTS: The medical records of 3778 patients (53.3% men) were included. The mean patient age was 66.1 years. Of patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk for stroke, only 54.7% received warfarin sodium, and 20.6% received neither aspirin nor warfarin. Of patients with acute myocardial infarction, only 75.5% received aspirin on hospital arrival. After orthopedic surgery procedures, only 85.6% of patients received prophylaxis with a parenteral anticoagulant agent or warfarin. In 49.4% of patients with deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or both, unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin use was discontinued before an international normalized ratio of 2.0 or greater was achieved for 2 consecutive days. Patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were rarely discharged from the hospital with bridge therapy (an injectable anticoagulant agent plus warfarin), although the length of hospitalization was significantly shorter than if discharged taking warfarin alone (4.0 vs 8.1 days; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of hospitalized patients do not receive adequate antithrombotic therapy for the primary and secondary prevention of thromboembolic disease.     

Discrepant imaging findings of portal vein thrombosis with dynamic computed tomography and computed tomography during arterial portography in hepatocellular carcinoma: possible cause leading to inappropriate treatment selection

We encountered a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who had discrepant imaging findings on portal vein thrombosis with portal phase dynamic computed tomography (CT) and CT during arterial portography (CTAP). CTAP, via the superior mesenteric artery and via the splenic artery, both showed a portal perfusion defect in the right hepatic lobe, indicating portal vein thrombosis in the main trunk of the right portal vein. Portal phase dynamic CT clearly depicted portal perfusion of the same hepatic area. Transarterial chemoembolization was successfully performed, but it was associated with severe liver injury. Clinicians should be cautious about this possible discrepancy based on imaging technique. The inaccurate evaluation of portal vein thrombosis may result in inappropriate treatment selection, which can worsen patient prognosis.     

Clinical features of patients with left atrial thrombus undergoing anticoagulant therapy

Purpose  

Left atrial (LA) thrombus was sometimes found by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), even in the setting of continuous warfarin therapy. A D-dimer cutoff level of 0.50 μg/mL appears to be a useful marker to rule out venous vein thrombosis. This study analyzed the clinical features of patients with LA thrombi who received anticoagulant therapy and whether the D-dimer test is useful to exclude LA thrombus.     

A case of portal vein thrombosis associated with acute pancreatitis and cholangitis]

Portal vein thrombosis is a rare complication accompanied with acute pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis. The main pathogenesis of portal vein thrombosis in pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis are suggested to be venous compression by pseudocyst and an imbalance between the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. In this case report, we experienced a 63 year old male who developed portal vein thrombosis later in the course of the treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis with cholangitis/cholecystitis without any symptom or sign. The diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis was given on follow up CT scan and serum protein S activity was decreased to 27% in laboratory study. Immediate anticoagulation therapy with heparin and thrombolytic therapy with urokinase and balloon dilatation were performed. Despite the aggressive treatment, complete reperfusion could not be obtained. With oral warfarin anticoagulation, the patient showed no disease progression and was discharged. We report a case of portal vein thrombosis as a complication of acute pancreatitis and cholangitis/cholecystitis with a review of literatures.     

Acute portal vein thrombosis due to chronic relapsing pancreatitis: a fistula between a pancreatic pseudocyst and the splenic vein

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a relatively common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis, but several other causes might play an important role in PVT pathogenesis. We present a case of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis complicated by acute extensive PVT. The patient was managed conservatively with danaparoid sodium at first, but the thrombosis gradually extended. We then tried radiological intervention using the direct transhepatic and transjugular intrahepatic postsystemic shunt approaches. Although we were able to successfully catheterize the percutaneous transhepatic portal vein (PTP), we could not achieve recanalization of the portal vein. Therefore, PTP catheterization and systemic intravenous infusion of urokinase and heparin was performed to prevent further progression of the thrombosis and cavernous transformation was finally achieved. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a pancreatic stone which had possibly induced dilatation of the tail duct and formation of a pancreatic pseudocyst and caused intractable pancreatitis. We performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and placed a stent in the pancreatic duct, which completely cured the pancreatitis. Retrospectively, the previous CT with curved multi-planar reconstruction was reviewed and a fistula was detected between the pancreatic pseudocyst and splenic vein. We concluded that the etiology of the PVT was not only inflammatory extension from pancreatitis but also a fistula between the pancreatic duct and the splenic vein.     

Renal function in atrial fibrillation patients switched from warfarin to a direct oral anticoagulant

All available direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are at least partially eliminated by the kidneys. These agents are increasingly being used as alternatives to warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to identify changes in renal function and associated DOAC dosing implications in a multicenter cohort of atrial fibrillation patients switched from warfarin to DOAC treatment. We included all patients in the Michigan Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Initiative cohort who switched from warfarin to a DOAC with atrial fibrillation as their anticoagulant indication between 2009 and 2014, and who had at least two creatinine values. Compliance with FDA-recommended dosing based on renal function was assessed. Of the 189 patients switched from warfarin to a DOAC, 34 (18.0 %) had a baseline creatinine clearance <50 mL/min and 23 (12.2 %) experienced important fluctuations in renal function. Of these 23 patients, 6 (26.1 %) should have impacted the DOAC dosing, but only 1 patient actually received an appropriate dose adjustment. Additionally, 15 (7.9 %) of patients on DOACs had a dose change performed, but only one patient demonstrated a change in renal function to justify the dose adjustment. Most atrial fibrillation patients who switched from warfarin to a DOAC had stable renal function. However, the majority of patients who had a change in renal function did not receive the indicated dose change. As the use of DOACs expands, monitoring of renal function and appropriate dose adjustments are critical.     

Warfarin use among ambulatory patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: the anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation (ATRIA) study

BACKGROUND: Warfarin dramatically reduces the risk for ischemic stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, but its use among ambulatory patients with atrial fibrillation has not been widely studied. OBJECTIVE: To assess the rates and predictors of warfarin use in ambulatory patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Large health maintenance organization. PATIENTS: 13428 patients with a confirmed ambulatory diagnosis of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and known warfarin status between 1 July 1996 and 31 December 1997. MEASUREMENTS: Data from automated pharmacy, laboratory, and clinical-administrative databases were used to determine the prevalence and determinants of warfarin use in the 3 months before or after the identified diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: Of 11082 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and no known contraindications, 55% received warfarin. Warfarin use was substantially lower in patients who were younger than 55 years of age (44.3%) and those who were 85 years of age or older (35.4%). Only 59.3% of patients with one or more risk factors for stroke and no contraindications were receiving warfarin. Among a subset of "ideal" candidates to receive warfarin (persons 65 to 74 years of age who had no contraindications and had previous stroke, hypertension, or both), 62.1% had evidence of warfarin use. Among our entire cohort, the strongest predictors of receiving warfarin were previous stroke (adjusted odds ratio, 2.55 [95% CI, 2.23 to 2.92]), heart failure (odds ratio, 1.63 [CI, 1.51 to 1.77]), previous intracranial hemorrhage (odds ratio, 0.33 [CI, 0.21 to 0.52]), age 85 years or older (odds ratio, 0.35 [CI, 0.31 to 0.40]), and previous gastrointestinal hemorrhage (odds ratio, 0.47 [CI, 0.40 to 0.57]). CONCLUSIONS: In a large, contemporary cohort of ambulatory patients with atrial fibrillation who received care within a health maintenance organization, warfarin use was considerably higher than in other reported studies. Although the reasons why physicians did not prescribe warfarin could not be elucidated, many apparently eligible patients with atrial fibrillation and at least one additional risk factor for stroke, especially hypertension, did not receive anticoagulation. Interventions are needed to increase the use of warfarin for stroke prevention among appropriate candidates.     

A case of portal vein thrombosis complicating acute cholangitis treated successfully with danaparoid sodium

An 81-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute cholangitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed a common bile duct (CBD) stone. In addition, CT showed thrombus of the right portal vein. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed to remove the CBD stone. Thrombosis was treated successfully with danaparoid sodium. It was speculated that the treatment of the acute cholangitis induced thrombolysis by the auto-fibrinolysis system and danaparoid sodium prevented the development of thrombus formation in this case.     

多层螺旋CT肺静脉成像评价导管射频消融治疗心房颤动中肺静脉状况的价值

目的：探讨多层螺旋CT（MSCT）肺静脉成像评价导管射频消融术治疗阵发性心房颤动中肺静脉状况的价值。方法：选择顽固性阵发性心房颤动患者38例，在导管射频消融电隔离术前、后分别进行MSCT肺静脉检查，经三维重建显示左心房和肺静脉主干及分支，并进行扫描前后的影像资料对比，分析肺静脉检查前后的管径变化以判断有无肺静脉狭窄的发生。结果：在38例患者中前、后对比共发现12例患者出现肺静脉不同程度的狭窄。结论：应用MSCT肺静脉成像可以清楚显示左心房和各支肺静脉的开口直径及其分支，并可发现有、无肺静脉狭窄及发育畸形。     

Treatment by danaparoid sodium for portal venous thrombosis]

We report a case of hepatitis B type liver cirrhosis with portal venous thrombosis in which danaparoid sodium was very effective. The portal venous thrombosis in this case disappeared 2 weeks commencing after administration of danaparoid sodium. The patient had not adverse effects or complications such as hemorrhage, and the clinical course was good. We consider that danaparoid sodium is an anticoagulant unlikely to cause adverse effects such as hemorrhage, and that it might be effective for treatment of portal venous thrombosis. We intend to examine the indications of treatment with danaparoid sodium, clarify the best administration method, and establishment of maintenance therapy by investigating more cases.     

胺碘酮与华法林合用对老年房颤病人INR的影响

目的：探讨胺碘酮对使用华法林抗凝治疗的房颤患者凝血酶原时间国际标准化比值（INR）的影响.方法：选择48例华法林抗凝治疗的持续性房颤患者,随机分为：华法林治疗组（24例）,维持原剂量华法林抗凝治疗;联合治疗组（24例）,在常规治疗基础上加用盐酸胺碘酮（可达龙）200mg,1日3次口服,治疗1周,测定并观察两组患者治疗前后INR的变化.结果：联合治疗组INR较华法林治疗组明显增高（P〈0.05）.结论：胺碘酮会增加华法林抗凝作用,治疗过程应注意监测INR,以调整华法林用量.     

Extensive mesenteric vein and portal vein thrombosis successfully treated by thrombolysis and anticoagulation

Mesenteric vein thrombosis is generally difficult to diagnose and can be fatal. A case of extensive thrombosis of the mesenteric and portal veins was diagnosed early and successfully treated in a 26-year-old man with Down syndrome who was admitted to hospital because of abdominal pain, severe nausea and high fever. Ultrasonography revealed moderate ascites, and there was minimal flow in the portal vein (PV) on the Doppler examination. Computed tomography (CT) showed remarkable thickening of the walls of the small intestine and extensive thrombosis of the mesenteric, portal and splenic veins. Because neither intestinal infarction nor peritonitis was seen, combined thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy without surgical treatment was chosen. Urokinase was administered intravenously and later through a catheter in the superior mesenteric artery. Heparin and antibiotics were given concomitantly. The patient's symptoms and clinical data improved gradually. After 10 days, CT revealed that collateral veins had developed and the thrombi in the distal portions of the mesenteric veins had dissolved, although the main trunk of the PV had not recanalized. The only risk factor of thrombosis that was detected was decreased protein S activity.     

Oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation: adherence with guidelines in an elderly cohort

PURPOSE: To determine adherence with practice guidelines in a population-based cohort of elderly persons aged 70 years or older with atrial fibrillation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of a subgroup of participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective observational study involving four communities in the United States. Subjects were participants with atrial fibrillation on electrocardiogram at one or more yearly examinations from 1993 to 1995. The outcome measure was self-reported use of warfarin in 1995. RESULTS: In 1995, 172 (4.1%) participants had atrial fibrillation together with information regarding warfarin use and no preexisting indication for its use. Warfarin was used by 63 (37%) of these participants. Of the 109 participants not reporting warfarin use, 92 (84%) had at least one of the clinical risk factors (aside from age) associated with stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Among participants not taking warfarin, 47% were taking aspirin. Several characteristics were independently associated with warfarin use, including age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.6 per 5-year increment, 95% CI 0.5-0.9], a modified mini-mental examination score <85 points [OR = 0.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.9], and among patients without prior stroke, female sex (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Despite widely publicized practice guidelines to treat patients who have atrial fibrillation with warfarin, most participants who had atrial fibrillation were at high risk for stroke but were not treated with warfarin. More studies are needed to determine why elderly patients with atrial fibrillation are not being treated with warfarin.     

Antiplatelet therapy in prevention of cardio- and venous thromboembolic events

The contribution of platelets in the pathophysiology of low-shear thrombosis—specifically, in atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolic events (VTE)—remains less clear than for arterial thrombosis. AF itself appears to lead to platelet activation, offering a potential target for aspirin and other antiplatelet agents. Randomized trial results suggest a small benefit of aspirin over placebo, and of dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin plus clopidogrel) over aspirin alone, for prevention of cardioembolic events in AF. Antiplatelet therapy thus can represent an option for patients with AF who are unsuitable for therapy with warfarin or novel oral anticoagulant agents. For VTE, the rationale for antiplatelet therapy reflects the venous response to disrupted blood flow—interactions among monocytes, neutrophil extracellular traps, and platelets. Early randomized trials generally showed poorer performance of aspirin relative to heparins and danaparoid sodium in prevention of VTE. However, results from large placebo- and dalteparin-controlled randomized trials have spurred changes in the most recent practice guidelines—aspirin is now recommended after major orthopedic surgery for patients who cannot receive other antithrombotic therapies.     

贵州省铜仁市10家县级综合医院心房颤动患者华法林抗凝治疗调查

目的了解贵州省铜仁市10家县级综合医院心房颤动患者华法林抗凝治疗现状及存在的问题,探讨基层医院合理、有效、安全使用华法林的应对策略。方法根据调查目的设计方案,查阅病历资料,并对现场医生进行问卷调查,回顾性分析2013年贵州省铜仁市10家县级综合医院心房颤动患者华法林使用情况。结果 10家县级综合医院共收治115例房颤住院患者,其中2家医院对4例患者应用了华法林抗凝治疗,华法林使用率3.48%。所有接受华法林抗凝治疗患者长期进行国际标准化比值(INR)监测,INR(1.5~2.0)保持在低水平状态。结论 10家县级综合医院心房颤动患者华法林抗凝治疗率极低,华法林应用不规范、不合理问题较一些文献报道更突出。应加大华法林的推广应用,促进抗凝剂的合理使用,使更多的患者享受到抗凝治疗带来的好处。     

Portal venous tumor growth-type of hepatocellular carcinoma without liver parenchyma tumor nodules: a case report

The patient was a 43-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B without history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), who was first diagnosed with thrombosis in right portal vein trunk and portal vein branches and ruptured esophageal varices in October 2011. He underwent endoscopic variceal ligation, but ruptured repeatedly. Despite anti-coagulant therapy, the thrombosis expanded from right portal vein trunk to upper mesenteric vein in March 2012. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed that portal vein thrombosis had low density from early to late phase. No focal liver lesions were identified by CT scan or ultrasound, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was within normal range. He died by intractable esophageal variceal bleeding in April 2012. Pathological examination of autopsy specimen showed that portal vein thrombosis was consistent with poorly-differentiated HCC. The portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) had only a few tumor vessels, which were compressed by fibromatous change originating from HCC formation, so were represented as low-density lesions from arterial to portal phase of CT. In addition, PVTT was negative for AFP, so representing serum value of AFP within normal range. PVTT had positive staining for c-kit, which is a liver stem cell marker. Liver tumors in the whole liver parenchyma were not found pathologically. PVTT might have the characteristics of presumed liver cancer stem cells. We experienced the first case of HCC only in portal vein without liver parenchyma tumor nodules, with difficult differential diagnosis from a non-malignant portal vein thrombosis. We also reported new tumor profiles of the portal venous tumor growth- type of HCC.     

Treatment of portal vein tumor thrombus using ¹²5Iodine seed implantation brachytherapy

We reported two cases of liver metastasis with portal vein tumor thrombus that developed after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both the patients were women aged 43 and 55 years, who had liver metastasis and portal vein tumor thrombus formation after liver transplantations for HCC. For the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombus, (125)I seeds were implanted into the hepatic tissue under the guidance of preoperative computed tomography (CT) images with a total radiation dose of 130 Gy. Enhanced spiral CT scan was performed for evaluation of the liver at 12 and 16 wk after treatment. Thereafter, upper abdominal CT examination was performed every 2-3 mo. No severe complications associated with the (125)I seeds were seen in these two patients. The upper abdominal CT images (obtained after 3 and 4 mo of treatment) showed that the thrombosis reactions were complete reaction and restoration of the patency of the partially obstructed portal vein with partial obstruction. In the case with complete obstruction of the portal vein, the thrombosis was resolved completely, but blood flow could not be restored. After this treatment, one of the patients is still alive, while the other died within 6 mo after the treatment due to lung metastasis complicated with lung infection, leading to respiratory failure.     

Management of heparin allergy during pregnancy with danaparoid.

We report a patient who presented with a left proximal deep vein thrombosis at 25 + 5 weeks gestation. She developed a severe urticarial rash 3 weeks following initiation of therapy with Enoxaparin. The patient was heterozygous for the factor V Leiden mutation. She was treated with subcutaneous twice-daily danaparoid (Orgaran) for the remainder of the pregnancy, achieving anti-Xa levels in the therapeutic range 0.5-1.0 IU/ml. Delivery was at term by caesarean section 2 days after spontaneous rupture of membranes and failure to progress in labour. Danaparoid was withheld during this time. Danaparoid was restarted 3 h post delivery and the patient anticoagulated with warfarin in the post-partum period. There was no recurrence of thrombosis or bleeding events during therapy with danaparoid. No anti-Xa activity was demonstrated in breast milk.