Risk factors associated with deep venous thrombosis in patients with different bed-rest durations: A multi-institutional case-control study

The effect of calf muscular vein thrombosis on the prognosis within one year postoperatively of geriatric hip fracture patients: a propensity score-matched analysis

INTRODUCTION

Calf muscular vein thrombosis (CMVT) is a type of distal deep vein thrombosis, which is common in geriatric hip fracture patients. However, studies focusing on whether the orthopedic operation has an impact on the prognosis of geriatric hip fracture patients with CMVT are very limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore whether geriatric hip fractures with CMVT affect the mortality of patients within one year postoperatively. The difficulty of the operation, postoperative complications, the status of thrombosis, and function scores were also compared.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Geriatric hip fracture patients who underwent surgery between January 2019 and January 2021 were included. Patients were divided into groups with and without CMVT by preoperative color Doppler ultrasound examination. Propensity score-matching (PSM) was performed in a ratio of 1:1 between the patient with and without CMVT groups. Baseline characteristics, laboratory results, perioperative indicators and prognosis of patients were collected retrospectively. Intraoperative and postoperative comparisons were conducted between patients with and without CMVT.

RESULTS

Two hundred and sixty geriatric hip fracture patients were included. Eighty-nine patients in each group were matched after PSM. There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups at one-month, three-month, six-month, and one-year postoperatively. However, patients with CMVT had longer hospital stays, a higher incidence of postoperative complications, and a higher incidence of thrombosis progression than patients without CMVT in the follow-up.

CONCLUSION

No significant difference in mortality within one year postoperatively was observed in Chinese geriatric hip fracture patients with or without CMVT formation. Strategies such as close monitoring the status of thrombosis, individualized care, and strengthening rehabilitation are recommended to reduce the risk of complications and optimize patient outcomes in this patient population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300069411). Registered March 15, 2023, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=192079 .

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) Prevention Among Nurses in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT), the formation of a blood clot within a large vein, is one of the most common problems among hospitalized patients. The annual prevalence of DVT is 48 per 1,000,000. Nurses' knowledge significantly affects compliance with VTE risk assessment and prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices regarding deep venous thrombosis prevention among nurses in Ministry of Health hospitals and King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This study was conducted in Jeddah using a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design. A sample of 240 registered nurses were conveniently recruited to complete a self-administered online questionnaire. The data were coded and analyzed through SPSS version 24.

RESULTS

The participants had adequate knowledge on the prevention of DVT (75.64 ± 18.88), and the highest level was observed for knowledge about the prevention and prophylaxis of DVT (81.98 ± 45.73%). The practice level of nurses in preventing DVT was 71.92%, with a mean score of 18.7.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant effect of nurses' level of academic qualifications, working ward, and DVT prevention training on their knowledge and practice of DVT prevention.

PROGNOSTIC MARKERS FOR THROMBOTIC EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC OR COLORECTAL ADENOCARCINOMAS

BACKGROUND

The relationship between thrombosis and cancer is based on evidence that cancer promotes prothrombotic changes in the host hemostatic system. The activation of blood coagulation is closely linked to tumor growth and dissemination.

AIMS

To evaluate whether quantifications of plasma circulation tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and thrombin-antithrombin complex could act as predictors for thrombotic events and death in patients with gastric or colorectal adenocarcinomas, while also evaluating the Karnofsky Performance Status.

METHODS

Eighty-two patients were included in the study and divided into three groups: controls (n=20), gastric adenocarcinomas (n=21), and colorectal adenocarcinomas (n=41). In order to calculate the Karnofsky index, information was collected to measure the patient's ability to perform common daily tasks. The following serum measurements were conducted: complete blood count, platelet count, extracellular deoxyribonucleic acid, and thrombin-antithrombin complex.

RESULTS

Ten patients (16%) experienced thrombosis during treatment. Patients with thrombin-antithrombin complex levels greater than 0.53 had a five-times higher risk of thrombosis. Lower Karnofsky Performance Status was also a risk factor for the event in this population. Neither thrombin-antithrombin complex nor plasma circulation tumor DNA were predictors of death after multivariate adjustment. Thus, Karnofsky index signaled a better overall survival prognosis for colorectal and gastric adenocarcinoma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Thrombin-antithrombin complex acts as a marker for thrombosis in patients with colorectal and gastric adenocarcinomas. We recommend prophylactic anticoagulation when the Karnofsky value is low and/or the thrombin-antithrombin complex concentration is greater than 0.53 ng/ml.

A Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients Receiving Chemoradiotherapy for Cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to develop a novel nomogram to predict cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) in hospitalized patients with cancer who receive chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with cancer who received chemoradiotherapy between January 2010 and December 2022. Predictive factors for CAT were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and a risk prediction model based on the nomogram was constructed and validated internally. Nomogram performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

A total of 778 patients were eligible for inclusion in this study. The nomogram incorporated 5 independent risk factors: age, cancer stage, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, D-dimer levels, and history of diabetes mellitus. The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram for the training and validation cohorts was 0.816 and 0.781, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 0.770-0.861 and 0.703-0.860, respectively. The calibration and DCA curves also displayed good agreement and clinical applicability of the nomogram model.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of CAT was relatively high among patients with cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy. The nomogram risk model developed in this study has good prediction efficiency and can provide a reference for the clinical evaluation of the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy.

Nomogram for predicting postoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients with spinal fractures caused by high-energy injuries

OBJECTIVE

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication in patients with spinal fractures caused by high-energy injuries. Early identification of patients at high risk of postoperative DVT is essential for the prevention of thrombosis. This study aimed to develop and validate a prediction model based on a nomogram to predict DVT in patients with spinal fractures caused by high-energy injuries.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected from 936 patients admitted to our hospital between January 2016 and December 2021 with spinal fractures caused by high-energy injuries. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for postoperative DVT and to develop a nomogram. The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve.

RESULTS

The incidence of preoperative DVT was 15.38% (144/936). The postoperative incidence of DVT was 20.5% (192/936). The multivariate analysis revealed that age, operation time, blood transfusion, duration of bed rest, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score and D-dimer were risk factors for postoperative DVT. The area under the ROC curve of the nomogram was 0.835 and the calibration curve showed good calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram showed a good ability to predict postoperative DVT in patients with spinal fractures caused by high-energy injuries, which may benefit pre- and postoperative DVT prophylaxis strategy development.

Application Areas of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression in the Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis During Dixon Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is common in the lithotomy position after laparoscopic surgery. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) plays an important role in DVT prevention. However, few studies have compared the different compression areas of IPC application. It was hypothesized that the location of the compression sleeves could have an impact on the effects of thromboprophylaxis.

METHODS

In this randomized, controlled trial performed from August 2020 to March 2021, 164 patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic Dixon surgery were randomly assigned to one of four groups, based on the bilateral placement of compression sleeves during surgery: feet, calves, thighs, or control (no IPC). Both lower extremities were monitored for DVT on days 1 and 7 after surgery, using ultrasonographic assessment of mean blood velocity, blood flow volume, and diameter of the common femoral veins. Thrombosis-related hematologic analysis was performed.

FINDINGS

On day 1 after surgery, IPC of the feet or calves was associated with a reduced prevalence of DVT compared with controls (both: P = 0.024; OR = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.72), while IPC of the thighs had no significant benefit (P = 0.781; OR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.29-2.55). The prevalence of DVT in the left extremity was lower with IPC of the feet and calves compared with controls (both, P = 0.048). The mean blood velocity in the common femoral vein was significantly increased after surgery with IPC of the left and right feet (P = 0.006 and 0.007, respectively) and calves (P = 0.011 and P = 0.026, respectively) compared with controls. Similarly, the volume of blood flow in the left common femoral vein was greater with IPC of the feet and calves (P = 0.03 and 0.027, respectively). However, on day 7 after surgery, the between-group differences in the prevalences of DVT and hematologic indicators of thrombosis were not significant.

IMPLICATIONS

On day 1 after surgery, IPC application at the feet or calves facilitated venous return and, hence, reduced the prevalence of DVT, especially in the left extremities. However, there were no significant differences in the prevalences of DVT or thrombosis-related hematologic indicators among the four groups on the day 7 after surgery. Chinese Clinical Trial Registration identifier: ChiCTR2000035325.

Apolipoprotein L Domain Containing 1 Inhibits Tissue Factor to Impede Thrombus Formation in a Rat Model of Deep Vein Thrombosis via Activating PI3K/Akt Pathway

BACKGROUND

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is one of the major health problems worldwide. Apolipoprotein L domain containing 1 (APOLD1) was reported to be downregulated in DVT. The present study intended to investigate whether APOLD1 affects thrombus formation in a rat model of DVT.

METHODS

The rat model of DVT was established by inferior vena cava (IVC) stenosis. At 6 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr after IVC stenosis, the gross IVC with thrombus was dissected and observed. Then, the rats were preinjected with the lentiviral overexpression vector, APOLD1-LVs, 1 hr before IVC stenosis, to evaluate the influence of APOLD1 on thrombosis in rats. The serum levels of D-dimer and TAT as well as the content of TF in IVC tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

IVC stenosis resulted in thrombus formation in rats, increased serum levels of D-dimer and TAT, and decreased APOLD1 expression. APOLD1 overexpression inhibited in vivo thrombosis, reduced serum levels of D-dimer, and downregulated tissue factor (TF) activity and level. APOLD1 overexpression also increased p-PI3K and p-Akt protein levels.

CONCLUSIONS

APOLD1 suppresses thrombus formation in a rat model of DVT via downregulating TF expression by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

A Case Report: Multifocal Necrotizing Encephalitis and Myocarditis after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination against COVID-19

The current report presents the case of a 76-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who died three weeks after receiving his third COVID-19 vaccination. The patient was first vaccinated in May 2021 with the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vector vaccine, followed by two doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in July and December 2021. The family of the deceased requested an autopsy due to ambiguous clinical signs before death. PD was confirmed by post-mortem examinations. Furthermore, signs of aspiration pneumonia and systemic arteriosclerosis were evident. However, histopathological analyses of the brain uncovered previously unsuspected findings, including acute vasculitis (predominantly lymphocytic) as well as multifocal necrotizing encephalitis of unknown etiology with pronounced inflammation including glial and lymphocytic reaction. In the heart, signs of chronic cardiomyopathy as well as mild acute lympho-histiocytic myocarditis and vasculitis were present. Although there was no history of COVID-19 for this patient, immunohistochemistry for SARS-CoV-2 antigens (spike and nucleocapsid proteins) was performed. Surprisingly, only spike protein but no nucleocapsid protein could be detected within the foci of inflammation in both the brain and the heart, particularly in the endothelial cells of small blood vessels. Since no nucleocapsid protein could be detected, the presence of spike protein must be ascribed to vaccination rather than to viral infection. The findings corroborate previous reports of encephalitis and myocarditis caused by gene-based COVID-19 vaccines.

Effective prediction model for preventing postoperative deep vein thrombosis during bladder cancer treatment

Objective

To begin to understand how to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after an innovative operation termed intracorporeal laparoscopic reconstruction of detenial sigmoid neobladder, we explored the factors that influence DVT following surgery, with the aim of constructing a model for predicting DVT occurrence.

Methods

This retrospective study included 151 bladder cancer patients who underwent intracorporeal laparoscopic reconstruction of detenial sigmoid neobladder. Data describing general clinical characteristics and other common parameters were collected and analyzed. Thereafter, we generated model evaluation curves and finally cross-validated their extrapolations.

Results

Age and body mass index were risk factors for DVT, whereas postoperative use of hemostatic agents and postoperative passive muscle massage were significant protective factors. Model evaluation curves showed that the model had high accuracy and little bias. Cross-validation affirmed the accuracy of our model.

Conclusion

The prediction model constructed herein was highly accurate and had little bias; thus, it can be used to predict the likelihood of developing DVT after surgery.

The burden of boundedness and the implication for nursing: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

In the COVID-19 pandemic, many people experienced temporal boundedness in different ways (e.g., home, country, persons, and rules). However, being bound is also a permanent experience for chronically ill or handicapped people with sometimes serious consequences. To be able to recognize the phenomenon, a clear definition is necessary. In the literature, though, boundedness shows up as a very multifaceted phenomenon.

OBJECTIVES

Exploring and conceptualizing the phenomenon of boundedness taking into account the various forms and the consequences for nursing.

METHODS

A scoping review using the framework of Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA statement (PRISMA-ScR) to verify the fullness of the review.

DATA SOURCES

Online dictionaries and theoretical and empirical publications in CINAHL, Medline via PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Scopus, WISO. A total of 34 sources were included.

RESULTS

Boundedness as a contextual concept is ambiguous. There are three basic causes: an acquired condition, personal obligations, arranged conditions, two principal courses: enduring and temporary, and seven types of being bound: to one or more person(s), to a place/position, to/in an object, to thoughts/opinions, to activities, to/in substances and to time. Examples of types are bedbound, culture-bound, homebound, time-bound, wheelchair-bound and are particularly relevant for care. The consequences are manifold, physically, as well as mentally, and socially.

CONCLUSION

To reduce or avoid the burdens caused by boundedness, the concept must be implemented in nursing education and nursing practice. To this end, nursing research must further specify the types of boundedness in concept analyses and develop suitable interventions.