1. Prevalence of deep venous thrombosis in ventilated COVID-19 patients: a mono-center cross-sectional study
- Author
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Ben Pellens, Björn Stessel, Nathalie De Mey, Dirk Ramaekers, Michiel Van Tornout, Margo Romont, Jasperina Dubois, Ilse De Pauw, Pellens, Ben, Romont, Margo, Van Tornout, Michiel, De Mey, Nathalie, Dubois, Jasperina, De Pauw, Ilse, Ramaekers, Dirk, and STESSEL, Bjorn
- Subjects
Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,central venous ,business.industry ,Cross-sectional study ,artificial ,COVID-19 ,Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Venous thrombosis ,Emergency Medicine ,Medicine ,Center (algebra and category theory) ,cardiovascular diseases ,venous thrombosis ,intensive care unit (ICU) ,business ,catheterization ,respiration - Abstract
Background: COVID-19 patients are related with an elevated risk for deep venous thrombosis (DVT). We evaluated the prevalence of DVT in our intubated and mechanically ventilated COVID-19+ patients at March 29th. Methods: We performed a Mono-center, investigator-initiated, observational, cross-sectional study. A total of 12 intubated COVID-19+ patients at intensive care unit (ICU) ward C3 of the Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium at March 29th were included. All patients received a prophylactic dose of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). All intubated and mechanically ventilated patients were screened for the presence of DVT in femoral, popliteal, jugular and inferior caval veins with duplex ultrasound. Results: In total, 8 from all 12 intubated and ventilated COVID 19+ patients had already developed minimally one DVT. No relevant correlations could be detected. Conclusions: The prevalence of DVT in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19 is over 60% despite adequate treatment with a prophylactic dose of LMWH. We suggest the use of graduated compression (elastic) stockings (GCS) and intermediate-dose LMWH for thrombosis prophylaxis in all COVID-19 patients. Since there were no clinical signs of DVT, we suggest to routinely screen all COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU for DVT via ultrasound. Future research should focus on the mechanisms underlying these observations.
- Published
- 2020