title: The efficacy of sequential compression devices in multiple trauma patients with severe head injury.
abstract: Thirty-two multiple trauma patients with severe head injury and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 8 or less were prospectively studied to assess the occurrence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). All patients required mechanical ventilation. A sequential compression device (SCD) was used in 14 patients and 18 patients received no prophylaxis for thromboembolism. Bilateral lower extremity technetium venoscans and ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) lung scans were performed within 6 days of admission and every week for 1 month or until the patient developed DVT or PE or was discharged from the SICU. Deep venous thrombosis occurred in two patients (6%) at 16 and 28 days following trauma. Twenty-five patients had normal or low probability V/Q scans. Six had high probability V/Q scans confirmed by pulmonary arteriograms (PAGs) at 12.5 +/- 4 days. Clinical signs of PE were absent in all patients with a positive PAG. There were no differences in age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), GCS Score, APACHE II Score, or Trauma Score between the patients who developed DVT or PE and those who did not. A SCD was used in four of the eight patients with DVT or PE. All but one patient with DVT or PE underwent placement of a vena caval filter. Multiple trauma patients with severe head injury (GCS score < or = 8) are at high risk for thromboembolism. The available means of prevention and diagnosis of DVT or PE in multiple trauma patients with severe head injury are not entirely effective.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, MA 02118-2393.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gersin
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Grindlinger
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wedel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cachecho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes