• Charles A Karcutskie, Arjuna Dharmaraja, Jaimin Patel, Sarah A Eidelson, Anish B Padiadpu, Arch G Martin, Gabriel Lama, Edward B Lineen, Nicholas Namias, Carl I Schulman, and Kenneth G Proctor.
• Ryder Trauma Center, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
• JAMA Surg. 2018 Feb 1; 153 (2): 144-149.

ImportanceThe efficacy of anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa)-guided dosing of thromboprophylaxis after trauma remains controversial.ObjectiveTo assess whether dosing of enoxaparin sodium based on peak anti-Xa levels is associated with the venous thromboembolism (VTE) rate after trauma.Design, Setting, And ParticipantsRetrospective review of 950 consecutive adults admitted to a single level I trauma intensive care unit for more than 48 hours from December 1, 2014, through March 31, 2017. Within 24 hours of admission, these trauma patients were screened with the Greenfield Risk Assessment Profile (RAP) (possible score range, 0-46). Patients younger than 18 years and those with VTE on admission were excluded, resulting in a study population of 792 patients.ExposuresThe control group received fixed doses of either heparin sodium, 5000 U 3 times a day, or enoxaparin sodium, 30 mg twice a day. The adjustment cohort initially received enoxaparin sodium, 30 mg twice a day. A peak anti-Xa level was drawn 4 hours after the third dose. If the anti-Xa level was 0.2 IU/mL or higher, no adjustment was made. If the anti-Xa level was less than 0.2 IU/mL, each dose was increased by 10 mg. The process was repeated up to a maximum dose of 60 mg twice a day.Main Outcomes And MeasuresRates of VTE were measured. Venous duplex ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography were used for diagnosis.ResultsThe study population comprised 792 patients with a mean (SD) age of 46 (19) years and was composed of 598 men (75.5%). The control group comprised 570 patients, was older, and had a longer time to thromboprophylaxis initiation. The adjustment group consisted of 222 patients, was more severely injured, and had a longer hospital length of stay. The mean (SD) RAP scores were 9 (4) for the control group and 9 (5) for the adjustment group (P = .28). The VTE rates were similar for both groups (34 patients [6.0%] vs 15 [6.8%]; P = .68). Prophylactic anti-Xa levels were reached in 119 patients (53.6%) in the adjustment group. No difference in VTE rates was observed between those who became prophylactic and those who did not (7 patients [5.9%] vs 8 [7.8%]; P = .58). To control for confounders, 132 patients receiving standard fixed-dose enoxaparin were propensity matched to 84 patients receiving dose-adjusted enoxaparin. The VTE rates remained similar between the control and adjustment groups (3 patients [2.3%] vs 3 [3.6%]; P = .57).Conclusions And RelevanceRates of VTE were not reduced with anti-Xa-guided dosing, and almost half of the patients never reached prophylactic anti-Xa levels; achieving those levels did not decrease VTE rates. Thus, other targets, such as platelets, may be necessary to optimize thromboprophylaxis after trauma.

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