title: Venous thromboembolic events in pediatric trauma patients: is prophylaxis necessary?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous thromboembolic events (VTE), such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, are major morbidities in adult trauma patients. Invasive and noninvasive prophylactic therapies are used to prevent VTE in trauma patients. The risk of VTE in pediatric patients is not well known. Is VTE prophylaxis necessary in the pediatric trauma population?
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study from the trauma registry of a Level I trauma center from January 1, 1994, through December 31, 2003. Three separate age groups were reviewed: Group I, age less than 13 years; group II, age 13 to 17 years; and group III, age greater than 17 years. Group I did not receive any VTE prophylaxis. All patients in group III received invasive and noninvasive prophylaxis if not contraindicated. In group II, VTE prophylaxis was administered at the preference of the attending surgeon. All patients were assigned an Injury Severity Score at discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 13,880 patients were identified. Groups I, II, and III had 1,192; 1,021; and 10,568 patients, respectively. In group I, no patient developed a VTE. Two patients in group II developed VTE. Both had an Injury Severity Score of >24 and both had contraindication to invasive prophylaxis. In group III, 59 patients developed VTE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of clinically significant thromboembolic event in trauma patients under age 13 is negligible. Therefore, VTE prophylaxis is unnecessary in pediatric patients with traumatic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, New York 11974, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Azu
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Scriven
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brebbia
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy