Thromboembolism after trauma: an analysis of 1602 episodes from the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank.
OBJECTIVE
Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) are potentially preventable causes of morbidity and mortality after injury. We hypothesized that the current clinical incidence of VTE is relatively low and that VTE risk factors could be identified.


METHODS
We queried the ACS National Trauma Data Bank for episodes of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE). We examined demographic data, VTE risk factors, outcomes, and VTE prophylaxis measures in patients admitted to the 131 contributing trauma centers.


RESULTS
From a total of 450,375 patients, 1602 (0.36%) had a VTE (998 DVT, 522 PE, 82 both), for an incidence of 0.36%. Ninety percent of patients with VTE had 1 of the 9 risk factors commonly associated with VTE. Six risk factors found to be independently significant in multivariate logistic regression for VTE were age > or = 40 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74 to 2.32), lower extremity fracture with AIS > or = 3 (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.64 to 2.26), head injury with AIS > or = 3 (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.46), ventilator days >3 (OR 8.08; 95% CI 6.86 to 9.52), venous injury (OR 3.56; 95% CI 2.22 to 5.72), and a major operative procedure (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.30 to 1.80). Vena cava filters were placed in 3,883 patients, 86% as PE prophylaxis, including in 410 patients without an identifiable risk factor for VTE.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who need VTE prophylaxis after trauma can be identified based on risk factors. The use of prophylactic vena cava filters should be re-examined.
Department of Surgery, San Francisco General Hospital, CA 94110, USA. pknudson@sfghsurg.ucsf.edu
M Margaret
MM
Knudson
Danagra G
DG
Ikossi
Linda
L
Khaw
Diane
D
Morabito
Larisa S
LS
Speetzen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*