Improvement of Medical Treatment Options of Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis of Low Extremities Associated with Phlegmasia Alba Dolens

The aim of the study was to improve the conservative treatment options for proximal deep vein thrombosis of low extremities associated with phlegmasia alba dolens optimization of anticoagulant therapy and paravascular injection of the anti-inflammatory medical mixture in areas of the most intense inflammatory process.Materials and methods. The results of treatment of two statistically homogeneous groups of patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities associated with white phlegmasia were compared. In the first group (n = 30), standard conservative treatment was carried out using rivaroxaban as an anticoagulant; in the second group (n = 30), initial heparin therapy was first performed and, additionally, the following mixture was administered in the places of the greatest severity of inflammatory process under ultrasound control: dexamethasone 16 mg, heparin 5 thousand units, 0.25% novocaine solution 20.0 ml. During treatment the incidence of hemorrhagic syndrome was recorded. The results were assessed after one year according to the degree of deep vein lumen restoration and the severity of venous outflow impairment according to the Villalta scale. Results. In patients of both groups, every tenth patient developed some minor manifestations of hemorrhagic syndrome during treatment with rivaroxaban that was corrected by a decrease in the dose of anticoagulant.Complete restoration of the lumen of the veins occurred in 20.0%, patients of the first group and in 40.0%, patients of the second group; partial, in 63.3% and 56.7% of patients, respectively, minimal - in 16.7% and 3.3% of patients, respectively.In the first group, clinical disorders of venous outflow were absent in 20.0% of patients, a weak degree of severity was registered in 23.3%, an average - in 40.0%, and a strong one in 16.7% of patients, and in the second group, in 40 %, 26.7%, 30% and 3.3% of patients, respectively.Different minor hemorrhagic complications after Rivaroxaban intake occurred equally in both groups in each of ten patients. These complications were treated by the reduction of the anticoagulants dose.Complete restoration of the vein lumen occurred in the first group in 20.0%, and in the second group in 40.0% of patients, partial restoration, in 63.3% and 56.7% of patients, minimal - in 16.7% and 3.3% of patients respectively.In patients of the first group clinical venous congestion was absent in 20,0% of patients, mild congestion was manifested in 23,3% of patients, moderate - in 40,0% of patients, and severe was in 16,7% of cases. In the second group, the obtained data was 40%, 26,7%, 30%, and 3,3% of patients, respectively. Conclusion. Starting therapy with heparin and paravascular injection of anti-inflammatory mixture helps improve treatment outcomes.

Proximal deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background COVID-19 appears to be associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the risk of clinically relevant VTE in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods This meta-analysis included original articles in English published from January 1st, 2020 to June 15th, 2020 in Pubmed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of science, and Cochrane. Outcomes were major VTE, defined as any objectively diagnosed pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Primary analysis estimated the risk of VTE, stratified by acutely and critically ill inpatients. Secondary analyses explored the separate risk of proximal DVT and of PE; the risk of major VTE stratified by screening and by type of anticoagulation. Results In 33 studies (n = 4009 inpatients) with heterogeneous thrombotic risk factors, VTE incidence was 9% (95%CI 5–13%, I2 = 92.5) overall, and 21% (95%CI 14–28%, I2 = 87.6%) for patients hospitalized in the ICU. Proximal lower limb DVT incidence was 3% (95%CI 1–5%, I2 = 87.0%) and 8% (95%CI 3–14%, I2 = 87.6%), respectively. PE incidence was 8% (95%CI 4–13%, I2 = 92.1%) and 17% (95%CI 11–25%, I2 = 89.3%), respectively. Screening and absence of anticoagulation were associated with a higher VTE incidence. When restricting to medically ill inpatients, the VTE incidence was 2% (95%CI 0–6%). Conclusions The risk of major VTE among COVID-19 inpatients is high but varies greatly with severity of the disease. These findings reinforce the need for the use of thromboprophylaxis in all COVID-19 inpatients and for clinical trials testing different thromboprophylaxis regimens in subgroups of COVID-19 inpatients. Trial registration The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42020193369).

Association Between Asymptomatic Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis and Mortality in Acutely Ill Medical Patients

Background Asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an end point frequently used to evaluate the efficacy of anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in medical patients. Recently, the clinical relevance of asymptomatic DVT has been challenged. Methods and Results The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between asymptomatic proximal DVT and all‐cause mortality (ACM) using a cohort analysis of a randomized trial for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acutely ill medical patients. Patients who received at least 1 dose of study drug and had an adequate compression ultrasound examination of the legs on either day 10 or day 35 were categorized into 1 of 3 cohorts: no VTE, asymptomatic proximal DVT, or symptomatic DVT. Cox proportional hazards model, with adjustment for significant independent predictors of mortality, were used to compare the incidences of ACM. Of the 7036 patients, 6776 had no VTE, 236 had asymptomatic DVT, and 24 had symptomatic VTE. The incidence of ACM was 4.8% in patients without VTE. Both asymptomatic proximal DVT (mortality, 11.4%; hazard ratio [HR], 2.31; 95% CI, 1.52–3.51; P <0.0001) and symptomatic VTE (mortality, 29.2%; HR, 9.42; 95% CI, 4.18–21.20; P <0.0001) were independently associated with significant increases in ACM. The analysis was post hoc, and ultrasound results were not available for all patients. Adjustment for baseline variables significantly associated with ACM may not fully compensate for differences. Conclusions Asymptomatic proximal DVT is associated with higher ACM than no VTE and remains a relevant end point to evaluate the efficacy of anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in medical patients. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT00571649.

Predictors of long-term post-thrombotic syndrome following high proximal deep vein thrombosis: a cross-sectional study

Background Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a frequent chronic complication of proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limb, but predictors of PTS are not well established. We aimed to examine predictors of PTS in patients with long-term PTS following proximal DVT. Methods During 2006–09, 209 patients with a first time acute upper femoral or iliofemoral DVT were randomized to receive either additional catheter-directed thrombolysis or conventional therapy alone. In 2017, the 170 still-living participants were invited to participate in a cross-sectional follow-up study. In the absence of a gold standard diagnostic test, PTS was defined in line with clinical practice by four mandatory, predefined clinical criteria: 1. An objectively verified DVT; 2. Chronic complaints (> 1 month) in the DVT leg; 3. Complaints appeared after the DVT; and 4. An alternative diagnosis was unlikely. Possible predictors of PTS were identified with multivariate logistic regression. Results Eighty-eight patients (52%) were included 8–10 years following the index DVT, and 44 patients (50%) were diagnosed with PTS by the predefined clinical criteria. Younger age and higher baseline Villalta score were found to be independent predictors of PTS, i.e., OR 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93–0.99), and 1.23 (95% CI, 1.02–1.49), respectively. Lack of iliofemoral patency at six months follow-up was significant in the bivariate analysis, but did not prove to be significant after the multivariate adjustments. Conclusions In long-term follow up after high proximal DVT, younger age and higher Villalta score at DVT diagnosis were independent predictors of PTS.