Risk factors for early rebleeding and mortality in acute variceal hemorrhage

Assessing the Predictive Factors for Bleeding in Esophageal Variceal Disease: A Systematic Review

Esophageal varices, dilated submucosal distal esophageal veins, are a common source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with portal hypertension. This review aims to comprehensively assess predictive factors for both the first occurrence and subsequent risk of esophageal variceal bleeding. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) and Cochrane databases. A total of 33 studies were selected using rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Several predictive factors were identified for esophageal variceal bleeding, including the Child-Pugh score, Fibrosis Index, specific endoscopic findings, ultrasound parameters, portal vein diameter, presence and size of collaterals, CT scan findings, ascites, platelet counts, coagulation parameters, albumin levels, Von Willebrand Factor, bilirubin levels, diabetes mellitus, and the use of b-blocking agents in primary prophylaxis. The findings of this systematic review shed light on multiple potential predictive factors for esophageal variceal bleeding. Endoscopic findings were found to be reliable predictors. Additionally, ultrasound parameters showed associations with bleeding risk. This systematic review identifies multiple potential predictive factors for esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with portal hypertension. While certain factors exhibit strong predictive capabilities, further research is needed to refine and validate these findings, considering potential limitations and biases. This study serves as a critical resource for bridging knowledge gaps in this field.

Alcohol Abstinence Improves Prognosis Across All Stages of Portal Hypertension in Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Alcohol-related liver disease is a leading cause of liver-related mortality. The effect of alcohol abstinence on the natural history of alcohol-related cirrhosis across distinct stages of portal hypertension has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we assessed the clinical implications of abstinence in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension.

METHODS

Alcohol abstinence, hepatic decompensation, and mortality were assessed in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis who underwent a baseline hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement and were diagnosed with clinically significant portal hypertension (HVPG ≥10 mm Hg).

RESULTS

A total of 320 patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis (median age: 57 [interquartile range (IQR), 49.7-63.1] years; 75.6% male; 87.5% decompensated) and a median HVPG of 20 (IQR, 17-23) mm Hg were followed up for a median of 36 (IQR, 14-80) months. Overall, 241 (75.3%) patients remained abstinent, while 79 (24.7%) patients had active alcohol consumption. Alcohol abstinence was linked to a significantly reduced risk of hepatic decompensation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.391; P < .001), as well as liver-related (aHR, 0.428; P < .001) and all-cause (aHR, 0.453; P < .001) mortality, after adjusting for baseline HVPG, MELD, and previous decompensation. Importantly, alcohol abstinence significantly reduced the cumulative incidence of hepatic decompensation in both groups with HVPG 10-19 mm Hg (P < .001) and HVPG ≥20 mm Hg (P = .002). The 3-year decompensation probability was 32.4% vs 60.0% in HVPG 10-19 mm Hg and 57.5% vs 82.6% in HVPG ≥20 mm Hg for abstinent patients vs active drinkers, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol abstinence improves prognosis across all stages of portal hypertension in alcohol-related cirrhosis, including in patients who have already progressed to high-risk portal hypertension. (ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT03267615).

Predictive value of hepatic venous pressure gradient and efficacy and significance of early PTVE for gastrointestinal bleeding after TACE for liver cancer

Aims

To investigate the predictive value of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and the efficacy and significance of early percutaneous transhepatic varices embolization (PTVE) for gastrointestinal bleeding after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for liver cancer.

Methods and Materials

This retrospective study enrolled 60 patients diagnosed with stage B or stage C liver cancer, according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, between December 2019 and October 2021. TACE and HVPG measurement (>16 mmHg or >20 mmHg) were performed on all 60 patients, who were randomized into control and experimental (PTVE) groups. All patients were followed up for 12 months.

Statistical Analysis Used

SPSS 20.0 software was used for data analysis. The two groups were compared with respect to the initial occurrence time of hemorrhage after TACE, recurrence time of hemorrhage, liver function, TACE frequency, TACE type, and tumor control.

Results

The initial hemorrhage rates at one, three, six, and 12 months after TACE were 3.2%, 12.9%, 22.6%, and 48.4%, respectively, in the control group (n = 31) and 0%, 0%, 3.4%, and 10.3%, respectively, in the PTVE group (n = 29). Differences between the groups in terms of initial hemorrhage rate at six and 12 months postoperatively were significant (P < 0.05). The recurrence rates of hemorrhage at one, three, six, and 12 months after TACE were 11.1%, 22.2%, 22.2%, and 33.3%, respectively, in 27 patients in the control group. In eight patients in the PTVE group, the corresponding rates were 0%, 0%, 0%, and 25.0%. The differences between the groups in the recurrence rate of hemorrhage at the four time points were significant (P < 0.05). At six months postoperatively, liver function recovery and remission were noted in eight (25.8%) and 18 (66.7%) patients, respectively, in the control group; these events were noted in 10 (34.5%) and 19 patients (65.5%), respectively, in the PTVE group, and the difference between the groups was not significant (P > 0.05). In the control group, TACE was performed for a total of 94 times on 31 patients within 12 months, including conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (C-TACE, 75.5%) and the drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE, 24.5%); the objective response rate (ORR) was 39.3%. In the PTVE group, TACE was performed for a total of 151 times on 29 patients within 12 months, with an average of 5.21 times on each patient, including the C-TACE (57.6%) and DEB-TACE (42.4%); the ORR was 60.1%. Differences in TACE frequency, proportion of C-TACE/DEB-TACE, and ORR were significant between the two groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

HVPG can accurately evaluate gastrointestinal bleeding after TACE in patients with liver cancer. Early PTVE can significantly lower the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and help TACE control tumor progression in patients with an HVPG >16 mmHg or >20 mmHg.

CYANOACRYLATE GLUE FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL VARICES: A SINGLE CENTRE EXPERIENCE FROM NORTH INDIA

BACKGROUND

In natural history of cirrhosis, variceal bleeding is one of the earliest decompensations to happen, and, if adequately managed, survival is improved. Gastric varices have challenges in management due to their location, size and propensity to bleed. The N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (NBC) glue application has emerged as definitive therapy in bleeding gastric varices. Here we present our experience with use of NBC in management of gastric and difficult cases of esophageal varices.

METHODS

A total of 75 patients underwent NBC glue application for varices which included 69 patients with gastric varices and six patients with esophageal varices. All the procedures were done with flexible endoscope and sclerotherapy needle after due precautionary measures.

RESULTS

Hemostasis was varices in all patients after endotherapy. The average quantity of glue used was 2.75±0.95 mL. Complete obliteration with single session of NBC application was achieved in 55 patients. Re-bleeding occurred in five patients within 5 days of index event. 20 patients had in-hospital mortality but none was related to gastrointestinal bleeding. 6-week all-cause mortality was 26 (35%).

CONCLUSION

Glue therapy with NBC is a life saving therapy in patients with bleeding gastric varices and esophageal varices not amenable to endoscopic variceal ligation or sclerotherapy.

Progress in research of factors associated with esophageal and gastric variceal rebleeding in cirrhosis

Rebleeding of esophageal varices in cirrhosis is the focus of secondary prevention in patients with esophageal varices, which can significantly increase the risk of death and seriously affect the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis. At present, clinical focus is not only on the factors affecting the first bleeding and prognosis of esophageal and gastric varices in cirrhosis, but also on the analysis and summary of the factors related to rebleeding. This paper will summarize the impact of epidemiological and laboratory indexes, endoscopy and imaging, and common scoring systems on rebleeding in liver cirrhosis patients with esophageal varices, with an aim to help clinicians formulate individualized treatment plans and preventive strategies, reduce rebleeding rate and fatality rate, and improve patient prognosis.

The Presence of Ascites Affects the Predictive Value of HVPG on Early Rebleeding in Patients with Cirrhosis

Background and Aims

Gastroesophageal variceal bleeding is a serious complication of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients and could be predicted by hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). However, whether the presence of ascites affects the prognostic value of HVPG for patients with acute variceal bleeding is still unknown. This retrospective study is aimed at investigating the influence of ascites on predictive performance of HVPG for early rebleeding in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding.

Methods

In this retrospective study, a total of 148 patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for acute variceal bleeding who underwent HVPG measurement and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) for the prevention of rebleeding were included. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and logistical regression method were employed to analyze the predictive performance of HVPG for early rebleeding. The locally weighted scatterplot smoothing approach was adopted to assess the monotonicity between bleeding risk and HVPG.

Results

A significantly higher HVPG level was observed in patients with early rebleeding compared to patients without rebleeding in the nonascites cohort. When using HVPG to predict early rebleeding, there was a lower area under curve in the ascites cohort compared to the nonascites cohort. HVPG was recognized as a risk factor for early rebleeding by a logistic regression model only in the nonascites cohort. An overall monotonicity in the trend of change in HVPG and risk for early rebleeding was observed in the nonascites cohort solely.

Conclusion

The predictive value of HVPG for early rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis that developed acute variceal bleeding is hindered by the presence of ascites.

Portosystemic shunts versus endoscopic intervention with or without medical treatment for prevention of rebleeding in people with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

People with liver cirrhosis who have had one episode of variceal bleeding are at risk for repeated episodes of bleeding. Endoscopic intervention and portosystemic shunts are used to prevent further bleeding, but there is no consensus as to which approach is preferable.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the benefits and harms of shunts (surgical shunts (total shunt (TS), distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS), or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)) versus endoscopic intervention (endoscopic sclerotherapy or banding, or both) with or without medical treatment (non-selective beta blockers or nitrates, or both) for prevention of variceal rebleeding in people with liver cirrhosis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the CHBG Controlled Trials Register; CENTRAL, in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE Ovid; Embase Ovid; LILACS (Bireme); Science Citation Index - Expanded (Web of Science); and Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science (Web of Science); as well as conference proceedings and the references of trials identified until 22 June 2020. We contacted study investigators and industry researchers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised clinical trials comparing shunts versus endoscopic interventions with or without medical treatment in people with cirrhosis who had recovered from a variceal haemorrhage.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. When possible, we collected data to allow intention-to-treat analysis. For each outcome, we estimated a meta-analysed estimate of treatment effect across trials (risk ratio for binary outcomes). We used random-effects model meta-analysis as our main analysis and as a means of presenting results. We reported differences in means for continuous outcomes without a meta-analytic estimate due to high variability in their assessment among all trials. We assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 27 randomised trials with 1828 participants. Three trials assessed TSs, five assessed DSRSs, and 19 trials assessed TIPSs. The endoscopic intervention was sclerotherapy in 16 trials, band ligation in eight trials, and a combination of band ligation and either sclerotherapy or glue injection in three trials. In eight trials, endoscopy was combined with beta blockers (in one trial plus isosorbide mononitrate). We judged all trials to be at high risk of bias. We assessed the certainty of evidence for all the outcome review results as very low (i.e. the true effects of the results are likely to be substantially different from the results of estimated effects). The very low evidence grading is due to the overall high risk of bias for all trials, and to imprecision and publication bias for some outcomes. Therefore, we are very uncertain whether portosystemic shunts versus endoscopy interventions with or without medical treatment have effects on all-cause mortality (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.13; 1828 participants; 27 trials), on rebleeding (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.50; 1769 participants; 26 trials), on mortality due to rebleeding (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.76; 1779 participants; 26 trials), and on occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy, both acute (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.92; 1649 participants; 24 trials) and chronic (RR 2.51, 95% CI 1.38 to 4.55; 956 participants; 13 trials). No data were available regarding health-related quality of life. Analysing each modality of portosystemic shunts individually (i.e. TS, DSRS, and TIPS) versus endoscopic interventions with or without medical treatment, we are very uncertain if each type of shunt has effect on all-cause mortality: TS, RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.13; 164 participants; 3 trials; DSRS, RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.33; 352 participants; 4 trials; and TIPS, RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.31; 1312 participants; 19 trial; on rebleeding: TS, RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.56; 127 participants; 2 trials; DSRS, RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.65; 330 participants; 5 trials; and TIPS, RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.55; 1312 participants; 19 trials; on mortality due to rebleeding: TS, RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.96; 164 participants; 3 trials; DSRS, RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.74; 352 participants; 5 trials; and TIPS, RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.04; 1263 participants; 18 trials; on acute hepatic encephalopathy: TS, RR 1.66, 95% CI 0.70 to 3.92; 115 participants; 2 trials; DSRS, RR 1.70, 95% CI 0.94 to 3.08; 287 participants; 4 trials, TIPS, RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.99; 1247 participants; 18 trials; and chronic hepatic encephalopathy: TS, Fisher's exact test P = 0.11; 69 participants; 1 trial; DSRS, RR 4.87, 95% CI 1.46 to 16.23; 170 participants; 2 trials; and TIPS, RR 1.88, 95% CI 0.93 to 3.80; 717 participants; 10 trials. The proportion of participants with shunt occlusion or dysfunction was overall 37% (95% CI 33% to 40%). It was 3% (95% CI 0.8% to 10%) following TS, 7% (95% CI 3% to 13%) following DSRS, and 47.1% (95% CI 43% to 51%) following TIPS. Shunt dysfunction in trials utilising polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents was 17% (95% CI 11% to 24%). Length of inpatient hospital stay and cost were not comparable across trials. Funding was unclear in 16 trials; 11 trials were funded by government, local hospitals, or universities.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Evidence on whether portosystemic shunts versus endoscopy interventions with or without medical treatment in people with cirrhosis and previous hypertensive portal bleeding have little or no effect on all-cause mortality is very uncertain. Evidence on whether portosystemic shunts may reduce bleeding and mortality due to bleeding while increasing hepatic encephalopathy is also very uncertain. We need properly conducted trials to assess effects of these interventions not only on assessed outcomes, but also on quality of life, costs, and length of hospital stay.

The predictive value of baseline hepatic venous pressure gradient for variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic patients receiving secondary prevention

BACKGROUND

Baseline hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) has been applied for prediction of variceal rebleeding in patients after acute variceal bleeding. However, for patients receiving secondary prevention, there still lacks evidence about the predictive performance of baseline-HVPG for rebleeding. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of baseline-HVPG for variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic patients receiving secondary prevention.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 122 patients with cirrhosis accepting secondary prevention of variceal rebleeding in a university hospital. All the included patients had HVPG measurements before rebleeding and had at least 1-year follow-up after HVPG measurement unless the rebleeding occurred. The rebleeding rate in patients with different HVPG levels and time-dependent predictive performance of baseline-HVPG were analysed. A Cox regression model and P for trend were used to assess the rebleeding risk.

RESULTS

Variceal rebleeding occurred in 22 (18.0%) patients during 1-year follow-up. No significant difference was observed in rebleeding rate between patients with HVPG <16 mmHg and HVPG ≥16 mmHg (17.91% vs. 26.41%, P=0.200). A decreasing trend was observed in area under the curve of HVPG for predicting rebleeding by time. The multivariate Cox model showed an overall decreasing trend in hazard ratio of rebleeding (vs. patients with HVPG <12 mmHg) for patients with 12≤ HVPG <16 mmHg, 16≤ HVPG <20 mmHg and HVPG ≥20 mmHg; besides, an increasing P for trend was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

A single baseline-HVPG measurement was insufficient for predicting rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis who received secondary prevention.

A new algorithm for predicting long-term survival in chronic hepatitis B patients with variceal bleeding after endoscopic therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A predictive algorithm for survival is urgently needed in clinical practice. This study aimed to establish an algorithm to predict long-term survival in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with hepatic cirrhosis and variceal bleeding after endoscopic therapy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study in which 603 patients who followed-up for three years were randomly assigned into a training cohort and a validation cohort in a 2:1 ratio. A new score model was devised based on the result of Cox regression analysis in the training cohort, and was verified in the validation cohort.

RESULTS

A prediction score model composed of age, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and MELD score was established. The score ranged from 0 to 11. Areas under the ROC curve of the score were 0.821 (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.769-0.873) and 0.827 (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.753-0.900) in the training cohort and validation cohort, respectively. Scores 0-4 and 5-11 identified patients as low-risk and high-risk categories, respectively. The cumulative 3-year survival rate was significantly higher in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The new score model can be used to predict long-term survival in CHB patients with hepatic cirrhosis and variceal bleeding after endoscopic therapy.

Budd-Chiari syndrome with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: Characteristic and long-term outcomes of endovascular treatment

Purpose To identify the characteristics and evaluate the long-term outcomes of endovascular treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Methods Forty-seven consecutive Budd-Chiari syndrome patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage were referred for the treatment with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, and subsequently underwent follow-up. Data were retrospectively collected and follow-up observations were performed at 1, 2, 2-5, and 5-8 years postoperatively. Results Cirrhosis was presented in 16 patients, and splenoportography reviewed obvious varices in 18 patients. Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty was technically successful in all patients. Major procedure-related complications occurred in 3 of the 47 patients (6.38%). The cumulative 1, 2, 2-5, and 5-8 year primary patency rates were 100% (46/46), 93.2% (41/44), 90.9% (40/44), and 86.4% (19/22), respectively. The cumulative 1, 2, 2-5, and 5-8 year secondary patency rates were 100% (47/47), 100% (44/44), 100% (44/44), and 95.5% (21/22), respectively. Mean and median duration of primary patency was 65.17 ± 3.78 and 69.0 ± 5.69 months, respectively. No upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage recurred during follow-ups. The mean survival time was 66.97 ± 3.61 months and the median survival time was 69.0 ± 4.10 months. Conclusion PTBA was an effective treatment that can prevent recurrence of the life-threatening complications and ensured long-term satisfactory clinical outcomes for Budd-Chiari syndrome patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization was not recommended for all Budd-Chiari syndrome patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Emergency endoscopic variceal ligation in cirrhotic patients with blood clots in the stomach but no active bleeding or stigmata increases the risk of rebleeding

Background/Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of emergency variceal ligation for the prevention of rebleeding in cirrhotic patients who are found on initial endoscopy to have blood clots in the stomach but no actively bleeding esophageal and gastric varices or stigmata.

Methods

This study included 28 cirrhotic patients who underwent emergency prophylactic EVL and 41 who underwent an elective intervention between January 2009 and June 2014. Clinical outcomes were analyzed, including the rebleeding, 6-week mortality, and rebleeding-free survival rates.

Results

The rebleeding rate was higher in the emergency than in the elective group (28.6% vs. 7.3%, P=0.041). Multivariate analysis showed that emergency prophylactic EVL (odds ratio [OR] = 7.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.634.8, P=0.012) and Child-Pugh score C (OR=10.6, 95% CI=1.4-80.8, P=0.022) were associated with rebleeding. In the emergency group, the gastric varices were associated with rebleeding (OR=12.0, 95% CI=1.7-83.5, P=0.012).

Conclusion

Emergency EVL may be associated with variceal rebleeding when blood clots are present in the stomach without active esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding or stigmata. Elective intervention should be considered as a safer strategy for preventing variceal rebleeding in this situation.

Evaluation of left gastric vein in Chinese healthy adults with multi-detector computed tomography

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the classification and diameter of left gastric vein (LGV) in healthy Chinese adults with multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).

METHODS

MDCT angiography was performed in 234 healthy adults for the portal venous system. CT cross-sectional thin-layer reconstruction combined with maximum intensity projection, volume rendering and multiplanar reconstruction were applied. The diameter of LGV was measured at the point within 2 cm from LGV origination.

RESULTS

Of 234 subjects, 11 subjects (4.70%) who did not have clear images were excluded, and 223 subjects (95.30%) with excellent images were included. The LGV was originated from the portal vein in 46.15%, splenic vein in 30.77%, portal splenic angle in 14.53%, and the left branch of the portal vein in 3.85%. The maximal diameter of LGV was 4.74 ± 0.84 mm with a 95% confidence interval of 4.63-4.85 mm, and the LGV diameter was positively correlated with the weight of patients (R = 0.26, P = 0.006). No significant difference existed in the maximal diameter of LGV at different origination sites (P = 0.35). The diameter of LGV was significantly greater in males than in females (4.90 ± 0.85 vs. 4.56 ± 0.80 mm, P = 0.002), and the maximal diameter of LGV was significantly (P = 0.02) greater in the age range of 30-39 and 40-49 years than in the range of >70 years. No statistical significance (P = 0.36) was detected in the other groups.

CONCLUSION

MDCT can clearly display the detailed anatomy and variation of LGV in healthy adults, providing a normal range of LGV diameter for clinical reference for diagnosing possible portal hypertension and for possible intervention.

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.