Variation in DVT prophylaxis for adolescent trauma patients: a survey of the Society of Trauma Nurses

Practice variation in venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in adolescent trauma patients: A comparative analysis of pediatric, adult, and mixed trauma centers

INTRODUCTION

Adolescent trauma patients are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). It is unclear whether VTE prophylaxis practice patterns differ across trauma center types.

METHODS

The ACS-TQP database was queried for patients aged 12-17 admitted to a pediatric, adult, or mixed level I/II trauma center. VTE prophylaxis was compared between center types. Preplanned subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate guideline adherence.

RESULTS

Of 101,010 patients included, 35 ​% were treated at a pediatric trauma center (PTC), 43 ​% at a mixed trauma center (MTC), and 22 ​% at an adult trauma center (ATC). VTE prophylaxis was more common at ATCs and MTCs compared to PTCs (51.0 ​% vs 24.9 ​% vs 5.0 ​%,p ​< ​0.001). This trend persisted in subgroup analyses of patients aged 16-17 (63.8 ​% vs 40.5 ​% vs 6.4 ​%,p ​< ​0.001) and with injury severity score greater than 25 (83.8 ​% vs 74.0 ​% vs 35.1 ​%,p ​< ​0.001).

CONCLUSION

VTE prophylaxis is administered more frequently to adolescent trauma patients treated at ATCs and MTCs compared to PTCs despite published guidelines. Prospective studies are needed to assess the clinical utility of VTE prophylaxis in the adolescent trauma population.

Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations For Pediatric Multisystem Trauma Care: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for pediatric multisystem trauma, appraise their quality, synthesize the strength of recommendations and quality of evidence, and identify knowledge gaps.

BACKGROUND

Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children, who require a specific approach to injury care. Difficulties integrating CPG recommendations may cause observed practice and outcome variation in pediatric trauma care.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review using Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials, and grey literature, from January 2007 to November 2022. We included CPGs targeting pediatric multisystem trauma with recommendations on any acute care diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. Pairs of reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of CPGs using "Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation II."

RESULTS

We reviewed 19 CPGs, and 11 were considered high quality. Lack of stakeholder engagement and implementation strategies were weaknesses in guideline development. We extracted 64 recommendations: 6 (9%) on trauma readiness and patient transfer, 24 (38%) on resuscitation, 22 (34%) on diagnostic imaging, 3 (5%) on pain management, 6 (9%) on ongoing inpatient care, and 3 (5%) on patient and family support. Forty-two (66%) recommendations were strong or moderate, but only 5 (8%) were based on high-quality evidence. We did not identify recommendations on trauma survey assessment, spinal motion restriction, inpatient rehabilitation, mental health management, or discharge planning.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified 5 recommendations for pediatric multisystem trauma with high-quality evidence. Organizations could improve CPGs by engaging all relevant stakeholders and considering barriers to implementation. There is a need for robust pediatric trauma research, to support recommendations.

Thromboprophylaxis in pediatric patients with earthquake-related crush syndrome: a single centre experience

PURPOSE

Injuries increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the literature on the management of anticoagulant therapy in pediatric patients with crush injury is limited. In this study, we aimed to share our experience about anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in pediatric patients with earthquake-related crush syndrome.

METHODS

This study included patients who were evaluated for VTE risk after the Turkey-Syria earthquake in 2023. Since there is no specific pediatric guideline for the prevention of VTE in trauma patients, risk assessment for VTE and decision for thromboprophylaxis was made by adapting the guideline for the prevention of perioperative VTE in adolescent patients.

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients [25 males and 24 females] with earthquake-related crush syndrome had participated in the study. The median age of the patients was 13.5 (8.8-15.5) years. Seven patients (14.6%) who had no risk factors for thrombosis were considered to be at low risk and did not receive thromboprophylaxis. Thirteen patients (27.1%) with one risk factor for thrombosis were considered to be at moderate risk and 28 patients (58.3%) with two or more risk factors for thrombosis were considered to be at high risk. Moderate-risk patients (n = 8) and high-risk patients aged < 13 years (n = 11) received prophylactic enoxaparin if they could not be mobilized early, while all high-risk patients aged ≥ 13 years (n = 13) received prophylactic enoxaparin.

CONCLUSION

With the decision-making algorithm for thyromboprophylaxis we used, we observed a VTE rate of 2.1% in pediatric patients with earthquake-related crush syndrome.

Evaluation of guidelines for injured children at high risk for venous thromboembolism: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Pharmacologic prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a widely accepted practice in adult trauma patients to prevent associated morbidity and mortality. However, VTE prophylaxis has not been standardized in injured pediatric patients. Our institution identified factors potentially associated with a high risk of VTE in critically injured children that led to prospective implementation of VTE prophylaxis guidelines. We hypothesize that the guidelines are accurate in predicting children at risk for VTE.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected on injured children from August 2010 to August 2015. Pharmacologic prophylaxis was indicated for patients identified by the guidelines as high risk for VTE. Prophylaxis was deferred and a screening ultrasound was performed if the high-risk VTE patients were also at high risk for bleeding. To assess the accuracy of predicting confirmed cases of VTE, stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to measure the association of individual risk factors with VTE controlling for age (≥13 years). A receiver operating characteristic curve measured the accuracy of the final model to predict a VTE.

RESULTS

Of 4,061 trauma patients, 588 were admitted to the ICU, with the guidelines identifying 199 as high risk for VTE. VTE occurred in 3.9% (23/588) of the ICU population and 10% (20/199) of the high risk group. The median age of VTE patients in the ICU was 9.7 years. Statistically significant predictors (p < 0.05) of VTE in the multivariate model included presence of a central venous catheter (OR = 5.2), inotropes (OR = 7.7), immobilization (OR = 5.5), and a Glasgow Coma Scale of <9 (OR = 1.3). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of this model was 0.92, demonstrating its excellent predictive ability.

CONCLUSION

Specific clinical factors in critically injured children are associated with a high risk for VTE. Incorporating these risk factors in VTE prophylaxis guidelines facilitates more accurate risk stratification and may allow for improved VTE prevention in pediatric trauma.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic study, level II.

Prothrombotic Risk Factors and Preventive Strategies in Adolescent Venous Thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adolescents is a serious condition that requires prompt recognition and optimal management to prevent mortality and long-term morbidity. Adolescents account for a large proportion of cases of VTE in children. As teenagers transition from childhood to adulthood, they are at risk of developing medical conditions and exposure to risky habits that predispose them to VTE. This review focuses on the variety of risk factors and comorbidities seen in adolescent VTE and takes a quick look into risk-based preventive strategies for primary and secondary prevention.

Current Practice of Pharmacological Thromboprophylaxis for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Children: A Survey of Pediatric Hemostasis and Thrombosis Experts in North America

Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis (pTP) is the most effective intervention to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized adults. High-quality studies investigating the role of pTP in children are lacking. The aim of this study is to understand pediatric hematologists' current practices of pTP prescription and to explore their opinion about universal adoption of pTP for high-risk hospitalized children. An electronic survey was sent to members of Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society of North America. The response rate was 47.3% (53/112). VTE was perceived as a major hospital acquired complication by all and 96% (51/53) prescribed pTP in select cases. Majority would consider prescribing pTP for personal history of thrombosis, inheritance of severe thrombophilic conditions, and teen age. The majority of respondents (55%, 29/53) were either not in support of or uncertain about the universal adoption of pTP policy for high-risk hospitalized children. In total, 62% of respondents (33/53) did not support the use of pTP for central venous lines. Respondents reported on the presence of pharmacological (32%, 17/53) and mechanical (45%, 24/53) thromboprophylaxis policies at their institutions. Pediatric hematologists considered pTP a useful intervention to prevent VTE and prescribed pTP in select cases. Universal adoption of pTP was not supported. Wide variability in clinical practice was observed.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism after pediatric trauma

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The purposes of this study were to identify independent predictors of venous thromboembolism (VTE), to evaluate the relative impact of adult VTE risk factors, and to identify a pediatric population at high-risk for VTE after trauma.

METHODS

1934 consecutive pediatric admissions (≤ 17 years) from 01/2000 to 12/2012 at a level 1 trauma center were reviewed. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of VTE.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (1.2%) developed a VTE, including 5% of those requiring orthopedic surgery, 14% of those with major vascular injury (MVI), and 36% of those with both. Most (84%) were diagnosed at the primary site of injury. 86% of those who developed a VTE were receiving thromboprophylaxis at the time of diagnosis. Independent predictors were age (odds ratio (OR): 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-2.25), orthopedic surgery (OR: 8.10, CI: 3.10-21.39), transfusion (OR: 3.37, CI: 1.26-8.99), and MVI (OR: 15.43, CI: 5.70-41.76). When known risk factors for VTE in adults were adjusted, significant factors were age ≥ 13 years (OR: 9.16, CI: 1.08-77.89), indwelling central venous catheter (OR: 4.41, CI: 1.31-14.82), orthopedic surgery (OR: 6.80, CI: 2.47-18.74), and MVI (OR: 14.41, CI: 4.60-45.13).

CONCLUSION

MVI and orthopedic surgery are synergistic predictors of pediatric VTE. Most children who developed a VTE were receiving thromboprophylaxis at the time of diagnosis.

A multinational study of thromboprophylaxis practice in critically ill children

OBJECTIVES

Although critically ill children are at increased risk for developing deep venous thrombosis, there are few pediatric studies establishing the prevalence of thrombosis or the efficacy of thromboprophylaxis. We tested the hypothesis that thromboprophylaxis is infrequently used in critically ill children even for those in whom it is indicated.

DESIGN

Prospective multinational cross-sectional study over four study dates in 2012.

SETTING

Fifty-nine PICUs in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, and the United States.

PATIENTS

All patients less than 18 years old in the PICU during the study dates and times were included in the study, unless the patients were 1) boarding in the unit waiting for a bed outside the PICU or 2) receiving therapeutic anticoagulation.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of 2,484 children in the study, 2,159 (86.9%) had greater than or equal to 1 risk factor for thrombosis. Only 308 children (12.4%) were receiving pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis (e.g., aspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin, or unfractionated heparin). Of 430 children indicated to receive pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis based on consensus recommendations, only 149 (34.7%) were receiving it. Mechanical thromboprophylaxis was used in 156 of 655 children (23.8%) 8 years old or older, the youngest age for that device. Using nonlinear mixed effects model, presence of cyanotic congenital heart disease (odds ratio, 7.35; p < 0.001) and spinal cord injury (odds ratio, 8.85; p = 0.008) strongly predicted the use of pharmacologic and mechanical thromboprophylaxis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Thromboprophylaxis is infrequently used in critically ill children. This is true even for children at high risk of thrombosis where consensus guidelines recommend pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in the pediatric trauma population

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to review evidence-based literature addressing pertinent questions about venous thromboembolism (VTE) after traumatic injury in children.

METHODS

Data were obtained from English-language articles identified through Pubmed published from 1995 until November 2012, and from bibliographies of relevant articles. Studies were included if they contributed evidence to one of the following questions. In the pediatric traumatic injury population: (1) What is the overall incidence of VTE? (2) Is age (adolescence versus pre-adolescence) associated with higher VTE incidence? (3) Which risk factors are associated with higher VTE incidence? (4) Does mechanical and/or pharmacological prophylaxis impact outcomes?

RESULTS

Eighteen articles were included in this systematic review. The evidence regarding each question was evaluated, graded by author consensus, and summarized.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall incidence of VTE is low. Older (>13years) and more severely injured patients are at higher VTE risk. Additional factors including injury type or presence of a central venous catheter also place a patient at higher VTE risk. Implementation of a risk-based clinical practice guideline for VTE prophylaxis has been associated with reduced symptomatic VTE at one institution. Randomized, prospective trials analyzing outcomes of VTE prophylaxis in pediatric trauma victims are needed.

Utilization of low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis in pediatric and adolescent trauma patients

The objective of this study was to use trauma registry data to describe the number and characteristics of patients 21 years or younger receiving thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin at 2 pediatric and 2 adult level 1 trauma centers. Among 706 patients, the average age was 18.5 years, and 94.6% were hospitalized at adult centers. The most common injuries were lower extremity fractures (35.6%) and head injuries (20.4%). Major bleeding was reported in 3 patients (0.4%), and thrombotic events were reported in 15 patients (2.1%). Despite a lack of scientific evidence, low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis is being used in young trauma patients (primarily those 14 years or older). Prospective multicenter studies are needed to accurately describe the risks and benefits of low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis in young trauma patients, thereby identifying those who truly benefit from this intervention.

Pediatric venous thromboembolism in the United States: a tertiary care complication of chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

Pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an increasingly common problem. We hypothesized that VTE occurs most commonly in tertiary care settings and that the pattern of associated illnesses may have changed from earlier reports.

METHODS

The Kids' Inpatient Database 2006 was utilized to identify children ≤ 18 years old with in-hospital VTE. Children were identified by the presence of thrombosis specific ICD-9-CM diagnosis or procedure codes. Remaining ICD-9-CM codes were utilized to categorize patients by acute or chronic illness. The incidence of in-hospital VTE by hospital type, age, gender, race, and disposition were estimated.

RESULTS

Over 4,500 children met the inclusion criteria (188/100,000 discharges). Most VTE discharges (67.5%) were from children's hospitals (RR 5.09; 95% CI 4.76; 5.44). Underlying chronic illnesses were associated with most VTE (76.2%), most commonly: cardiovascular (18.4%), malignancy (15.7%), and neuromuscular disease (9.9%). VTE not associated with chronic illness were most often idiopathic (12.6%), followed by infections (9.5%), and trauma (9.1%). The greatest proportions of children with VTE were infants (23.1%) and adolescents (37.8%). However, when standardized against the entire database of discharges, infants were least likely to develop VTE (RR 0.48; 95% CI 0.43; 0.52), while adolescents were at highest risk (RR 1.89; 95% CI 1.73; 2.07). Hospitalizations ending with death were more likely to include VTE (RR 6.16; 95% CI 5.32; 7.13).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric VTE is most commonly seen in tertiary care. Adolescents are at greatest risk to develop in-hospital VTE. Patients whose hospitalization ended with death are at much greater risk to develop VTE.

Increased use of enoxaparin in pediatric trauma patients

PURPOSE

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pediatric trauma patients has been reported from 0.7 to 4.2 patients per 1000 admissions. There are no clear guidelines for prophylactic anticoagulation in children. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of enoxaparin in pediatric trauma patients.

METHODS

The Pediatric Health Information System database was queried from 2001 to 2008 for patients 0 to 18 years with a primary diagnosis of trauma based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. Patients who received enoxaparin and/or diagnosed with VTE were identified using pharmacy and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. Logistic regression was used to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with VTE and enoxaparin use.

RESULTS

Among 260,078 pediatric trauma patients, 3195 were prescribed enoxaparin (1.23%), 2915 (1.12%) of whom were given enoxaparin without a diagnosis of VTE. The incidence of VTE remained stable (0.23%-0.28%), whereas the use of enoxaparin increased (0.75%-1.54%), especially in patients without VTE (0.65%-1.43%). Venous thromboembolism was significantly associated with pelvic fractures, intensive care unit stay, and central venous catheters (P = .017, P < .001, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a stable VTE incidence, the use of enoxaparin significantly increased in pediatric trauma patients, suggesting that use of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is increasing in pediatric trauma centers.

Clinical Issues—January 2012

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in pediatric patients

Key words: pediatric patients, venous thromboembolism, prophylaxis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surgical wound classification system

Key words: surgical wound, wound classification, clean wound, clean-contaminated wound, contaminated wound, dirty infected wound.

Using the Surgical Wound Classification Decision Tree tool

Key words: surgical wound, wound classification, clean-contaminated wound, contaminated wound.

Using cotton surgical masks

Key words: allergy, cotton surgical masks, fabric surgical masks, disposable surgical masks.

Using povidone-iodine solution for surgical skin antisepsis before thyroid procedures

Key words: povidone iodine, thyroid, surgical skin antisepsis.

Survey of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in critically ill children

OBJECTIVE

There is lack of evidence to guide thromboprophylaxis in the pediatric intensive care unit. We aimed to assess current prescribing practice for pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in critically ill children.

SETTING

Pediatric intensive care units in the United States and Canada with at least ten beds.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional self-administered survey of pediatric intensivists using adolescent, child, and infant scenarios.

PARTICIPANTS

Pediatric intensive care unit clinical directors or section heads.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Physician leaders from 97 of 151 (64.2%) pediatric intensive care units or their designees responded to the survey. In mechanically ventilated children, 42.3% of the respondents would usually or always prescribe thromboprophylaxis for the adolescent but only 1.0% would prescribe it for the child and 1.1% for the infant. Considering all pediatric intensive care unit patients, 3.1%, 32.0%, and 44.2% of respondents would never prescribe thromboprophylaxis for the adolescent, child, and infant scenarios, respectively. These findings were significant (p < .001 for the adolescent vs. child and infant; p = .002 for child vs. infant). Other patient factors that increased the likelihood of prescribing prophylaxis to a critically ill child for all three scenarios were the presence of hypercoagulability, prior deep venous thrombosis, or a cavopulmonary anastomosis. Prophylaxis was less likely to be prescribed to patients with major bleeding or an anticipated invasive intervention. Low-molecular-weight heparin was the most commonly prescribed drug.

CONCLUSIONS

In these scenarios, physician leaders in pediatric intensive care units were more likely to prescribe thromboprophylaxis to adolescents compared with children or infants, but they prescribed it less often in adolescents than is recommended by evidence-based guidelines for adults. The heterogeneity in practice we documented underscores the need for rigorous randomized trials to determine the need for thromboprophylaxis in critically ill adolescents and children.

In the absence of a central venous catheter, risk of venous thromboembolism is low in critically injured children, adolescents, and young adults: evidence from the National Trauma Data Bank

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in a large sample of critical care pediatric, adolescent, and young adult trauma patients.

DATA SOURCE

The National Trauma Data Bank-the largest and most complete aggregation of trauma registry data in the United States.

SETTING

Seven hundred eighty-four level I to level IV trauma centers.

PATIENTS

Patients ≤ 21 yrs of age who spent at least 1 day in a critical care unit during a trauma admission between 2001 and 2005.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

To characterize differences between patients with and without venous thromboembolism, we extracted variables regarding patient demographics, injury pattern and severity, procedures, total length of stay, and intensive care unit and ventilator days. Odds ratios for predictors of venous thromboembolism were estimated with a logistic regression model. Among the 135,032 critical care patients analyzed, venous thromboembolism was uncommon (6 per 1,000 discharges). Placement of a central venous catheter was a significant predictor of venous thromboembolism (odds ratio = 2.24; p < .0001) when populations were analyzed collectively. When we narrowed our focus to injuries associated with venous thromboembolism, such as lower-extremity fractures, the effects of central venous catheter were of even greater magnitude, particularly in adolescents and young adults. The risk of venous thromboembolism in critical care patients without a central venous catheter was <1% even in adolescents/young adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Venous thromboembolism is rare in young critical care trauma patients, even older adolescents. The absence of published data on both the baseline risk of venous thromboembolism in pediatric critical care patients and the efficacy and safety of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis preclude the ability to make definitive recommendations for the use of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in this setting. Our results, however, suggest that venous thromboembolism prophylaxis may need to be considered only in critically injured adolescents and young adults with a continuing need for central venous access.

Effect of injury severity on the incidence and utilization-related outcomes of venous thromboembolism in pediatric trauma inpatients

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to generate national estimates of the effect of injury severity on the occurrence rate and associated resource utilization-related outcomes of venous thromboembolism (VTE) between pediatric and adolescent trauma inpatients in the United States.

DATA SOURCE

2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database, the largest all-payer pediatric (age < or =20 yrs) inpatient care database in the United States.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

VTE was identified in 2.7 per 1000 pediatric trauma discharges. Although injury severity is strongly associated with an increased risk of VTE, the occurrence rate is low even among critically injured patients (<2%). However, VTE has a significant and an independent impact on the length of stay and hospitalization costs in the critical care setting.

CONCLUSIONS

VTE increases both the length of stay and hospitalization costs independent of injury severity, demonstrating the need to consider thromboprophylaxis in the critically injured population. However, the low overall occurrence rate of VTE in young trauma patients, even in the intensive care unit, highlights the need for additional studies of risk factors and the potential risks of prophylactic anticoagulation, so that thromboprophylaxis can be more directly targeted to the children at highest risk.