Abstract
Background: With the extensive use of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), PICC-associated venous thrombosis (VT) has become one of the most important complications in the hospital. To reduce unnecessary Color Doppler Ultrasound (CDU) or imaging tests, D-dimer values are usually used to exclude VT for patients with low VT risk. There is little evidence for the usefulness of the D-dimer level as an independent diagnostic marker for excluding PICC-associated VT.Aims: To examine the effectiveness of D-dimer values to be used as an independent diagnostic marker for excluding PICC-associated Upper Extremity Venous Thrombosis(UEVT).Methods:Records were reviewed for 281 patients who underwent PICC insertion over the two years period in Xiangya Hospital Central South University.The patients were categorized into the UEVT unlikely group (<2 points) and the UEVT likely group (≥2 points) according to the Constans Clinical Decision Score( Constans score) post PICC insertion, before extubation. After the score was determined, the patients underwent a D-dimer test and CDU within 7 days after D-dimer test.Results: Among 281 patients, 180 patients (36%, 95%CI:30.6%-41.8%) had negative D-dimer results, 39 of 180 patients had VT despite having a negative D-dimer result, resulting in a failure rate of 21.7% (95% CI: 16.3–28.3%).The NPV of PICC-associated VT in the cancer group (80.0%,95% CI: 73.2–85.4%) was higher than that of the non-cancer group (60.0%,95% CI: 35.7–80.2%). The NPV of PICC-associated DVT(Deep Venous Thrombosis) (84.9%,95% CI: 78.7–89.6%) was lower than that of the PICC-associated SVT(Superficial Venous Thrombosis) (91.0% ,95% CI: 85.4–94.6%).Conclusion: The D-dimer levels maybe should not be used as a diagnostic index to rule out PICC-associated VT to avoid missed diagnosis of PICC-related VT, which may cause adverse consequences.
Assessment of D-dimer for ruling out peripherally inserted central catheter-associated upper extremity venous thrombosis: a diagnostic accuracy study
