Risk factors and incidence of deep vein thrombosis in lower extremities among critically ill patients

Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in patients with brain tumor undergoing craniotomy: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Brain tumor patients undergoing craniotomy are significantly associated with the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), while the contributing factors remains controversial. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for VTE in postoperational brain tumor patients.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to July 2023. Article selection, data extraction, and study quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests. Stata 15.0 software was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 25 studies were considered, with a total of 49,620 brain tumor individuals. The pooled prevalence of VTE during hospitalization in postoperational brain tumor patients was 9% [95% CI: (0.08, 0.10)]. Moreover, our results demonstrated that patients with VTE were older than those without VTE [mean difference [MD] = 8.14, 95% CI: (4.97, 11.30)]. The following variables were significantly associated with VTE: prior history of VTE [OR = 7.81, 95% CI: (3.62, 16.88)], congestive heart failure [OR = 2.33, 95% CI: (1.08-5.05)], diabetes [OR = 1.87, 95% CI: (1.12-3.10)], hypertension [OR = 1.27, 95% CI: (1.07-1.50)], steroid use [OR = 1.63, 95% CI: (1.41, 1.88)], high white blood cells counts [MD = 0.32, 95% CI: (0.01, 0.63)], and high fibrinogen levels [MD = 0.19, 95% CI: (0.08, 0.30)].

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis identified risk factors for postoperational VTE in patients with brain tumor, which can serve as a theoretical foundation for medical staff to manage and treat VTE.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CRD42023357459.

Improving compliance of risk assessment and nonpharmacological interventions for deep venous thrombosis prevention in a respiratory ICU: a best practice implementation project

OBJECTIVES

To increase the compliance with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) nonpharmacologic prophylaxis best practice recommendations while ensuring appropriate and structured nonpharmacologic prophylaxis for patients in the respiratory ICU.

BACKGROUND

DVT is a major problem for patients, with those who are critically ill representing a high-risk population for developing the condition. Nonpharmacologic prophylaxis is considered an effective intervention. However, the application of such interventions in practice has not been optimal to date.

METHODS

The current project was conducted in a respiratory ICU of a tertiary hospital. Audit criteria were developed on the basis of an evidence summary developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute, whereby the institute's Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System program to facilitate an audit and feedback cycle was utilized as an implementation framework. Baseline and follow-up audits on nonpharmacological DVT prophylaxis were conducted for 35 patients against five evidence-based recommendations. In addition, the nurses' knowledge and attitude regarding DVT prophylaxis were investigated both prior to and postimplementation.

RESULTS

In the baseline audit, compliance with the five evidence-based audit criteria was less than 15%. After the implementation of strategies including education, person-centered care, financial and human-resource support, there was a significant improvement in all the audit criteria. In addition, improvements in the nurses' knowledge and attitude regarding DVT prophylaxis were reported. The rate of discharged patients due to a deterioration of their condition decreased from 31.4 to 5.7% in the follow-up cycle. One DVT patient occurred in the baseline data, whereas no new incidences of DVT were found in the follow-up data.

CONCLUSION

The project not only improved nurses' knowledge and attitude regarding DVT prevention, but also remarkably improved the implementation of nonpharmacological DVT prophylaxis. The application of evidence-based nonpharmacological DVT prophylaxis may improve patients' outcomes in the ICU.

Prevalence and factors associated with the absence of pharmacologic venous thromboembolism prophylaxis: A cross-sectional study of Georgia intensive care units

PURPOSE

The need for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis is well accepted in the intensive care unit (ICU) and supported by a variety of guideline recommendations. Several studies have highlighted poor adherence to these recommendations, but it is unknown why this discrepancy exists. The aim of this study is assess the prevalence of pharmacoprophylaxis and characterize the practice of withholding prophylaxis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in adults admitted to a Georgia ICU at participating institutions on March 12, 2014. Data were collected on eligible patients regarding need for and omission of pharmacoprophylaxis.

RESULTS

Three hundred sixty-four patients across 9 institutions were included in the study. Patients had a mean age of 58 years and a median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of 5. Physical activity was completely bedridden or restricted in 87% of the cohort. Forty-five percent of patients were not receiving pharmacoprophylaxis. The most common reasons for withholding prophylaxis were receipt of mechanical prophylaxis, recent surgery or central nervous system bleed, and thrombocytopenia. Over 16% of the cohort was inappropriately not receiving thromboprophylaxis. Patients with an elevated international normalized ratio had lower odds of receiving prophylaxis (0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis is commonly omitted in ICU patients, and reasons for omission vary. An elevated international normalized ratio is associated with withholding of pharmacologic prophylaxis.

Thrombotic events as incidental finding on computed tomography in intensive care unit patients

INTRODUCTION

Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are a risk group to develop thrombosis and/or thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency and localization of clinically silent thrombotic events (TE) detected on CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2006 to 2013 a total of 370 patients from the ICU of our university clinic were investigated by postcontrast CT. In all cases CT was performed for detecting septic foci. There were 135 women and 235 men. CT scans included cervical, thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic regions. CT images of all patients were re-interpreted by 2 radiologists by consensus. Only thromboses detected for the first time on CT were included into the analysis. Collected data were evaluated by means of descriptive statistics. Frequencies and localizations of TE in surgical and non surgical patients were analyzed by Chi-square test. Significance level was p<0.05.

RESULTS

In 31.9% several TE were diagnosed. There were venous thrombosis (89.8%), cardiac thrombus (2.6%), and pulmonary embolism (7.6%). More often jugular veins were affected followed by brachiocephalic veins, and iliac veins. The frequency of TE in surgical patients was 31.1%, and 32.1% in non surgical patients. Patients after surgery had more often thrombosis of extremities veins in comparison to non surgical patients. In 61.9% of all TE the identified thrombotic complications were not diagnosed at the time of CT investigations.

CONCLUSION

TE can be identified in 31.9% of ICU patients as incidental finding on CT. There were venous thromboses, pulmonary embolism, and cardiac thrombus. Most frequently neck and thoracic veins were affected. 61.9% of all TE were not diagnosed at the time of CT investigations. Radiologists should check carefully CT scans for presence of different TE.

Assessment of the safety and efficacy of bedside ultrasound guidance for inferior vena cava filter placement in critically ill intensive care unit patients

Inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) have been used clinically for approximately 45 y, but only a few studies of these devices have involved intensive care unit (ICU) patients who were critically ill and had multiple-organ dysfunction or were otherwise too unstable for transport. The purpose of this research was to assess the tolerability and efficacy of bedside ultrasound-guided IVCF placement in ICU patients. A retrospective analysis of both bedside ultrasound-guided and X-ray-guided ICVF placement was performed from November of 2011 to August of 2013. The total success rate for ultrasound-guided IVCF placement was 93.4%, which included a 96.0% success rate in 25 ICU patients with an average age of 69.46 y. Six-month follow-up studies revealed no significant differences in long-term complications between the ultrasound- and X-ray-guided groups. IVCFs may be safely implanted under ultrasound guidance in a monitored ICU environment. Our conclusion is that patients should be fasting and should receive an enema and that pre-operative surface marking and dynamic monitoring should be employed. Further research is needed to develop specific ultrasound guidelines.

The effects of squat exercises in postures for toilet use on blood flow velocity of the leg vein

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of squat exercises performed in toilet-using postures on the blood flow velocity of the lower extremities for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. [Subjects] The subjects were 28 students who were attending B University in Cheonan. They were divided into a group of 14 subjects of sitting toilet users and a group of 14 subjects of squat toilet users. [Methods] The subjects performed squat exercises in different toilet-using postures and we investigated the changes in blood flow velocity. [Results] The variations in blood flow velocities before and after the exercises showed significant differences in both groups but the differences between the two groups were not significant. [Conclusion] Based on the results of this study, we consider squat exercises are effective at improving the variation in lower-extremity blood flow velocity when using a toilet.

Prevalence of deep vein thrombosis in acutely admitted ambulatory non-surgical intensive care unit patients

Background

Data on prevalence rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in different patient populations are scarce. Most studies on this topic focus on older patients or patients with malignancies, immobilization or thrombophilia. Less is known about the VTE risk profile of non-surgical patients presenting with a variety of medical diseases of differing severity. Aim of the present study was to investigate VTE prevalence in a pospective cohort study of ambulatory medical intensive care unit patients within 24 h after acute admission.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of 102 consecutive patients after acute admission to medical intensive care unit. Ultrasound compression sonography, APACHE-II-Scoring and laboratory examination was performed within 24 hours after admission.Possible determinants of a high risk of VTE were examined. In all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of DVT or suspicion of PE thoracic computer tomography (CT) was performed.

Results

VTE was found in 7.8% out of 102 of patients, mean APACHE-II-Score was 14 (mortality risk of about 15%). Thrombus location was femoropopliteal in 5 patients, iliacal in 2 and peroneal in 1 patient. Five VTE patients had concomitant PE (62.5% of VTE, 4.9% of all patients). No predictors of prevalent VTE were identified from univariable regression analysis although relative risk was high in patients with a history of smoking (RR 3.40), immobility (RR 2.50), and elevated D-Dimer levels (RR 3.49).

Conclusions

Prevalent VTE and concomitant PE were frequent in acutely admitted ICU patients.