![]() ![]() Lower-extremity ultrasound assessment for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was performed twice weekly, and clinical care continued throughout the trial. ![]() Most participants were medical patients one half were admitted from emergency departments. Compression was applied for a median 22 hours daily and for a median 7 days. Most pneumatic compression was accomplished with lower limb, knee-length sleeves. Critically ill patients clearly are at risk for VTE, but does combining two forms of prophylaxis confer benefit?Ībout 2000 patients at ICUs in Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, and India were randomized to receive pharmacologic prophylaxis alone or in combination with intermittent pneumatic compression. In many intensive care units (ICUs), patients commonly receive “dual therapy” for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE): pharmacologic prophylaxis (subcutaneous unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin) plus pneumatic compression devices. In critically ill patients, dual therapy was not more effective than drug therapy alone. ![]() No Benefit to Adding Pneumatic Compression to Pharmacologic Prophylaxis for Preventing Venous Thromboembolism The following NEJM Journal Watch summary by Dr Patricia Kritek further explains the study and results. In the Pneumatic Compression for Preventing Venous Thromboembolism (PREVENT) trial, Arabi and colleagues found that use of adjunctive intermittent pneumatic compression did not lower the incidence of deep vein thrombosis compared to pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis alone in critically ill patients. His wife asks whether the cumbersome mechanical compression boots add any benefit to the injections her husband receives to prevent clots.Īlthough pharmacologic prophylaxis has been shown to reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis, evidence is limited on the combined use of mechanical compression devices and pharmacologic prophylaxis. Watt is also attached to numerous lines, catheters, and the timed inflation and deflation of compression boots. Surrounded by various monitors that intermittently alarm, Mr. He is currently on vasopressors and intubated for ventilatory support. Watt is a 65-year-old man who was admitted to the medical intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by bacterial pneumonia. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |