Electronic ISSN 2287-0237

VOLUME

PREVALENCE OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM IN TRAUMA PATIENTS IN A PRIVATE TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

FEBRUARY 2020 - VOL.16 | ORIGINAL ARTICLE
OBJECTIVES:

To study the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in trauma patients receiving inpatient care at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters (BHQ).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A retrospective observational study in adult trauma patients (age ≥ 15 years) admitted at BHQ from 2016 to 2018. The collected data were diagnosis of VTE, gender, age, ethnicity, VTE risk score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), the onset of VTE, and patient care modalities including operative or non-operative management, need for intensive care and need for ventilator support.

RESULT:

A total of 2,548 trauma patients were admitted at BHQ from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Thirty-one patients developed VTE (1.22%), 29 cases had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 2 cases had DVT with pulmonary embolism (PE). There were twenty-one male patients and ten female patients in the VTE group. Fifteen patients in the VTE group were older than 65 years (48%). The prevalence of VTE was 0.54% in Thai patients, and 2.43% in non-Thai patients. Twenty-nine patients in the VTE group had high VTE risk. Four patients had diagnosis of VTE prior to admission at BHQ and 13 cases had been diagnosed within 48 hours of admission. The patients with higher severity of injury (higher ISS) had higher risk for VTE (p < 0.001). Twenty-four cases in the VTE group needed surgical management. Seventeen cases required intensive care and 7 cases needed ventilator support, not related to the presence of PE. Six patients developed VTE despite prevention.

CONCLUSION:

The prevalence of VTE in adult trauma patients in BHQ is 1.22%. A significant association between VTE and the severity of injury suggests that we should pay attention to this specific groups of patients for early VTE prophylaxis and detection. 

Keywords:

 trauma, venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism

Received: October 16, 2019

Revision received: January 15, 2020

Accepted after revision: February 07, 2020

BKK Med J 2020;16(1): 13-15.

DOI: 10.31524/bkkmedj. 2020.11.003

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