The effects of location and low-molecular-weight heparin administration on deep vein thrombosis outcomes in trauma patients

Tim H. Lee, Brock J. Alonzo, Jerome Differding, Samantha J. Underwood, Greg Hamilton, Igor Kremenevskiy, Steve McNamara, Martin A. Schreiber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is common after trauma. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a feared complication of DVT. Standard doses of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) are commonly used to prevent and treat DVT and PE. There is variable bioavailability of LMWH with standard therapy. The traditional concept that below-knee DVT is associated with a lower risk of subsequent PEmay result in less aggressive therapy. The purposes of this studywere to assess the rates of PE in above-knee versus below-knee DVT and longitudinally evaluate outcomes of DVT treated with LMWH therapy. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients at a university Level I trauma center during the years 2005 through 2010. Patients diagnosed with lower- extremityDVTwere included in this study. Patientswere classified by location of lower-extremityDVT and type of LMWH therapy received. All high-risk trauma patients were evaluated with weekly duplex Doppler ultrasonography. All duplex studies were reviewed for DVT resolution or improvement. Symptomatic patients were evaluated with computed tomographic angiography to rule out PE. Demographics, total length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit stay, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were collected. RESULTS: Three-hundred eight trauma patients with lower-extremity DVTwere included. More patients developed below-knee DVT (65.6%) compared with above-knee DVT (34.4%). Increased length of hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, and higher ISS were noted in patients with above-knee DVT. More patients had below-knee DVT in the prophylactic dosing group. With LMWH therapy, three PEs occurred in patients in the prophylactic dosing group with below-knee DVT, and no PEs occurred in the therapeutic treatment group. The incidence of PE between patients with below-knee DVT compared with above-knee DVToverallwas not different (3.3%and 4.7%, p = 0.59). To assess DVToutcomes, 157 of the 308 patients had serial duplex studies following diagnosis of lower-extremity DVT. The number of patients receiving either therapeutic or prophylactic LMWH was similar (51% and 49%). There was no difference in rates of resolution or improvement between LMWH dosing groups or location of DVT. CONCLUSION: In screened trauma patients, below-knee DVT is more common than above-knee DVT. There was no difference in the incidence of PE between groups. Standard prophylactic and therapeutic dosing of LMWH does not affect the rates of resolution or improvement of lower-extremity DVT. Rates of resolution and improvement of DVT is not dependent of location of lower-extremity DVT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)476-481
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Volume74
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2013

Keywords

  • Low-molecular-weight heparin
  • Lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis
  • Pulmonary embolism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effects of location and low-molecular-weight heparin administration on deep vein thrombosis outcomes in trauma patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this