The prevalence of venous thromboembolism of the lower extremity among thermally injured patients determined by duplex sonography.
BACKGROUND
Morbidity and mortality from venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant problem for hospitalized patients. Despite the ample prospective literature defining the prevalence of VTE in hospitalized patient populations, the prevalence of VTE in the thermally injured population remains largely unknown.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 148 thermally injured patients with hospital stays of greater than 3 days with lower extremity duplex ultrasonograms obtained at admission and discharge.


RESULTS
Nine patients experienced VTE (6.08%). Eight of the nine deep venous thromboses were proximal. One of the two pulmonary embolisms was fatal. Treatment risk factors that were associated with VTE were the presence of a central venous line (p = 0.020) and transfusion of more than 4 units of packed red blood cells (p = 0.023). These treatment factors were significantly related to each other (p < 0.0001), to body surface area burned, and to intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of VTE in burn patients is similar to that of moderate- to high-risk general surgical patients for whom VTE prophylaxis is recommended. VTE prophylaxis of burn patients, especially those requiring central venous lines and more than 4 units of packed red blood cells, should be considered.
Wibbenmeyer
Lucy A
LA
Department of Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, 52242, USa. wibbenmeyer@uiowa.edu
Hoballah
J J
JJ
Amelon
M J
MJ
Chang
P X
PX
Loret De Mola
R M
RM
Lewis
R D
RD
Warner
B
B
Kealey
G P
GP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control