Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Aug 2009
Multicenter StudyAn evaluation of practice pattern for venous thromboembolism prevention in Lebanese hospitals.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of death among hospitalized patients. Many VTE prophylaxis guidelines have been developed, including the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). VTE prophylaxis is required in specific patients; however, its practice is not always optimal, and often depends on the hospitals' protocols. In Lebanon, information about the appropriateness of VTE prophylaxis in health care centers is lacking. ⋯ This study reflected the importance of assessing VTE prophylaxis in Lebanese hospitals, thus, the need for implementing established guidelines to improve the overall patient safety.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Aug 2009
Comparative StudyA comparison of direct thrombin inhibitors in the treatment of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: a single institution experience.
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT), if left untreated, can lead to thrombocytopenia, thromboembolic complications and even death. Two thrombin inhibitors, lepirudin and argatroban, have been shown to improve clinical outcomes compared to historical controls in the management of HIT. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the effects of lepirudin and argatroban in the management of HIT. ⋯ Our findings suggest that thrombin inhibitors can improve the outcomes of patients with HIT by decreasing the incidence of morbidity and mortality relating to HIT. No significant difference could be determined in outcomes between argatroban and lepirudin therapy.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Aug 2009
Effectiveness of a clinical decision support system to identify heparin induced thrombocytopenia.
Subtle decreases in platelet count may impede timely recognition of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), placing the patient at increased risk of thrombotic events. ⋯ Implementation of a CDSS did not appear to improve the ability to detect and respond to potential HIT, but resulted in increased laboratory testing and changes in clinician reactions to decreasing platelet counts that deserve further study.