Comprehensive functional exercises with patient education for the prevention of venous thrombosis after major gynecologic surgery: A randomized controlled study

Effectiveness of non-instrumental early mobilization to reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in hospitalized patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) poses a significant health risk, particularly in hospitalized patients with multiple risk factors (cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes and obesity). Despite advances in treatment, DVT remains a prevalent complication of hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of non-instrumental mobilization in hospitalized patients at high risk of DVT, exploring the challenges and variations in intervention protocols.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING(S)

Not applicable.

PARTICIPANTS

Hospitalized patients at risk of deep vein thrombosis.

METHODS

A systematic search of three databases was conducted from interception to September 2023 for randomized controlled trials. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023460485). This study was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 statement. Two authors independently screened the studies and extracted the data. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Downs and Black checklist and GRADE system. The amount of evidence certainty was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool. Meta-analysis was performed addressing the incidence of deep vein thrombosis during hospitalization.

RESULTS

7 studies were eligible for inclusion which included a total of 1774 participants. Interventions ranged from active and passive ankle exercises to walking. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant overall effect in favor of non-instrumental early mobilization compared to usual care (RR = 0.55; 95 % CI = 0.41, 0.73; p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis comparing type of mobilization revealed significant effects for global (RR = 0.54; 95 % CI = 0.38, 0.78; p = 0.001) and remote mobilization (RR = 0.25; 95 % CI = 0.07, 0.86; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-instrumental early mobilization is beneficial in reducing the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in hospitalized patients.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, registration number: CRD42023460485.

Diabetes as one of the long-term COVID-19 complications: from the potential reason of more diabetic patients' susceptibility to COVID-19 to the possible caution of future global diabetes tsunami

According to recent researches, people with diabetes mellitus (type 1 and 2) have a higher incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by a SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this regard, COVID-19 may make diabetic patients more sensitive to hyperglycemia by modifying the immunological and inflammatory responses and increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) predisposing the patients to severe COVID-19 and potentially lethal results. Actually, in addition to COVID-19, diabetic patients have been demonstrated to have abnormally high levels of inflammatory cytokines, increased virus entrance, and decreased immune response. On the other hand, during the severe stage of COVID-19, the SARS-CoV-2-infected patients have lymphopenia and inflammatory cytokine storms that cause damage to several body organs such as β cells of the pancreas which may make them as future diabetic candidates. In this line, the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, which is activated by a number of mediators, plays a substantial part in cytokine storms through various pathways. In this pathway, some polymorphisms also make the individuals more competent to diabetes via infection with SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, during hospitalization of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, the use of some drugs may unintentionally lead to diabetes in the future via increasing inflammation and stress oxidative. Thus, in this review, we will first explain why diabetic patients are more susceptible to COVID-19. Second, we will warn about a future global diabetes tsunami via the SARS-CoV-2 as one of its long-term complications.

Standardization of caregiver and nursing perioperative care on gynecologic oncology wards in a resource-limited setting

Introduction

In Kampala, Uganda, there is a strong cultural practice for patients to have designated caregivers for the duration of hospitalization. At the same time, nursing support is limited. This quality improvement project aimed to standardize caregiver and nursing perioperative care on the gynecologic oncology wards at the Uganda Cancer Institute and Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital.

Methods

We developed, implemented, and evaluated a multidisciplinary intervention involving standardization of nursing care, patient education, and family member integration from October 2019 - July 2020. Data were abstracted from medical records and patient interviews pertaining to the following outcomes: 1) pain control; 2) post-operative surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia; 3) nursing documentation of medication administration, pain quality, and vital sign assessments, and 4) patient and caregiver education. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and independent samples t-test were applied.

Results

Data were collected from 25 patients undergoing major gynecologic procedures. Pre- (N = 14) and post- (N = 11) intervention comparison demonstrated significant increases in preoperative patient education (0% to 80%, p = 0.001) and utilization of a comprehensive postoperative order form (0% to 45.5%, p = 0.009). Increased frequency in nursing documentation of patient checks (3 to 8, p = 0.266) and intraoperative antibiotic administration (9 to 10, p = 0.180) in patient charts did not reach significance. There was no change in infection rate, pain score utilization, caregiver documentation, or preoperative medication acquisition.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that patient- and family-centered perioperative care can be improved through standardization of nursing care, improved education, and integration of caregivers in a nursing-limited setting.

COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus: from pathophysiology to clinical management

Initial studies found increased severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in patients with diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, COVID-19 might also predispose infected individuals to hyperglycaemia. Interacting with other risk factors, hyperglycaemia might modulate immune and inflammatory responses, thus predisposing patients to severe COVID-19 and possible lethal outcomes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is part of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), is the main entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2; although dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) might also act as a binding target. Preliminary data, however, do not suggest a notable effect of glucose-lowering DPP4 inhibitors on SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Owing to their pharmacological characteristics, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors might cause adverse effects in patients with COVID-19 and so cannot be recommended. Currently, insulin should be the main approach to the control of acute glycaemia. Most available evidence does not distinguish between the major types of diabetes mellitus and is related to type 2 diabetes mellitus owing to its high prevalence. However, some limited evidence is now available on type 1 diabetes mellitus and COVID-19. Most of these conclusions are preliminary, and further investigation of the optimal management in patients with diabetes mellitus is warranted.

Analysis of risk factors for lower limb deep vein thrombosis in patients after Lumbar Fusion Surgery

Objective

To identify the risk factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower limb in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgeries, to provide a better understanding of DVT and take prophylactic measures.

Methods

This study was carried out in our hospital between January 2016 and February 2020, patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgeries were included and divided into DVT group and non-DVT group, and the medical data including basic demographics, clinical characteristics, operative data, and routine biochemical parameters were collected and analyzed.

Results

In the current study, 390 cases were included, 48 cases were enrolled in DVT group and 342 in non-DVT group. The incidence of DVT was 12.3%. There were significant differences in age, hyperlipemia, hypertension, occupation type, D-dimer level, hospital stay, and postoperative exercises (p<0.05), but no significant differences in gender, smoking status, drinking status, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, fused segments, and operation time (p>0.05) between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, age>50 years, hypertension, D-dimer>500ug/L were independent risk factors, while postoperative exercises were protective factor for DVT.

Conclusion

Those patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgeries should take more prophylactic measures including postoperative exercises if they were elderly, or hypertensive, or have high D-dimer level, in order to decrease the incidence of DVT.

Effectiveness of ambulation to prevent venous thromboembolism in patients admitted to hospital: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patient ambulation is frequently recommended to help prevent venous thromboembolism during hospital admission. Our objective was to synthesize the evidence for ambulation as a prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in hospital.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials indexed from their inception through April 2020 for studies of adult patients admitted to hospital, in which ambulation or mobilization alone or concomitant with prophylaxis was indicated for prevention of venous thromboembolism. We searched ClinicalTrials.gov for unpublished trials. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Two reviewers independently screened articles and assessed risk of bias using 2 validated tools. We scored studies on quality of reporting, internal and external validity and study power; combined scores determined the overall quality.

RESULTS

Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria: 8 retrospective and 2 prospective cohorts, 7 RCTs and 1 secondary analysis of an RCT. The intervention (ambulation or mobilized) groups varied across studies. Five studies examined exercise as a therapeutic prophylaxis for thrombosis and 9 described an ambulation protocol. Five studies attempted to quantify amount and duration of patient ambulation and 3 reported ambulation distance. In the 5 studies rated as good or excellent statistical quality, findings were mixed. Incidence of venous thromboembolism was lowest when pharmacologic anticoagulants were added as part of the prescribed prophylaxis regimen.

INTERPRETATION

We did not find high-quality evidence supporting ambulation alone as an effective prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism. Ambulation should not be considered an adequate prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism, nor as an adequate reason to discontinue pharmacologic prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism during a patient's hospital admission.

[Rate of thrombosis and bleeding after urological surgery under standardized anticoagulation]

BACKGROUND

According to the current definition of the German guideline for prevention of venous thromboembolism, urological surgery includes a high number of high-risk patients. All patients undergoing urological surgery between 2012 and 2016 were analyzed with regard to complications (bleeding or thrombosis).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a retrospective and monocentric cohort study. Included were all patients who underwent surgery between 2012 and 2016 at the Urological Department at the University Hospital of Luebeck. Information was collected relating to anticoagulation, patient-specific and surgery-specific risk factors, and complications.

RESULTS

In all, 3609 surgeries were analyzed: 77.8% of patients received no medical prophylaxis, 10.2% received an aggregation inhibitor, and 8.5% synthetic, unfractionated or low molecular weight heparin. Heparin was administered to 80.4% of patients after surgery. During an average hospital stay of 4.5 days, 93.3% of the patients received no change in anticoagulation. Merely 0.8% of all patients suffered from clinical thomboembolic events within 28 days. In contrast the number of bleedings was higher with 20.3% (minor: 4.8%, major: 15.5%).

CONCLUSION

We found a slight risk for postoperative thromboembolism (0.8%). The risk for postoperative bleeding in contrast was 20.3%, including 15.5% major bleedings. The results are discussed in relation to the current guidelines.