Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2021
ReviewProphylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 related venous thromboembolism.
COVID-19 pneumonia has been associated with high rates of thrombo-embolic complications, mostly venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is thought to be a combination of conventional VTE and in situ immunothrombosis in the pulmonary vascular tree. The incidence of thrombotic complications is dependent on setting (intensive care unit (ICU) versus general ward) and the threshold for performing diagnostic tests (screening versus diagnostic algorithms triggered by symptoms). Since these thrombotic complications are associated with in-hospital mortality, all current guidelines and consensus papers propose pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in all hospitalized patients with COVID-19. ⋯ As for the management of thrombotic complications, treatment regimens from non-COVID-19 guidelines can be adapted, with choice of anticoagulant drug class dependent on the situation. Parenteral anticoagulation is preferred for patients on ICUs or with impending clinical deterioration, while oral treatment can be started in stable patients. This review describes current knowledge on incidence and pathophysiology of COVID-19 associated VTE and provides an overview of guideline recommendations on thromboprophylaxis and treatment of established VTE in COVID-19 patients.
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2021
ReviewCatheter-directed thrombolysis and mechanical intervention in deep venous thrombosis: what is the status after the ATTRACT trial?
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a major cause of acute and chronic morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Endovascular methods for thrombus removal and reestablishing venous patency are increasing in both scope and usage. ⋯ The Acute Venous Thrombosis: Thrombus Removal with Adjunctive Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis (ATTRACT) trial is the largest and most comprehensive randomized-controlled trial to date evaluating CDT compared to anticoagulation alone for the treatment of acute symptomatic proximal lower extremity DVT. This review discusses the current status of CDT and adjunctive endovascular interventions for DVT, particularly in the context of the ATTRACT trial.
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2021
ReviewPost-hospital discharge venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in medically ill patients.
There is a widely expressed concern about an unmet need for post hospitalization venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in medically ill patients, however, physicians and hospitals have been slow to implement this measure. Recommendations against extended VTE prophylaxis in medical patients from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in 2018 and the withholding of approval of betrixiban by the European Medicines Agency also in 2018 may have been influential in this regard. Furthermore, rivaroxaban the other drug approved for this indication in the U. ⋯ Internal medicine physicians, hospitalists and nursing home physicians have not shared the fervor for post hospital VTE prophylaxis, whether with anticoagulants or aspirin, that their orthopedic surgery colleagues have, particularly in hip and knee arthroplasty. This is despite an increased risk of post hospital discharge thrombosis in both groups of patients. Enter hospitalized patients with COVID-19, a potentially severe medical illness with high hospitalization related thrombosis risk, and questions arise as to whether these medical patients, who are clearly more hypercoagulable during hospitalization than those in previous studies, should warrant post hospital discharge prophylaxis.
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Treatment with icosapent ethyl 4 g/day, a highly purified and stable ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), demonstrated a significant reduction in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events and death in REDUCE-IT. However, analyses of REDUCE-IT and meta-analyses have suggested that this clinical benefit is greater than can be achieved by triglyceride reduction alone. EPA therefore may have additional pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory and anti-aggregatory mechanisms. ⋯ Incorporation of EPA into phospholipid bilayers influences membrane structure and may help to prevent cardiac arrhythmias. Clinically, this may translate into improved vascular health, including regression of atherosclerotic plaque. Overall, EPA has a range of pleiotropic effects that contribute to a reduction in ASCVD.
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2021
ReviewOutpatient treatment of emergency department patients diagnosed with venous thromboembolism.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) includes the diagnosis of either deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE). This review discusses an evidence-based approach to the outpatient treatment of VTE in the emergency care setting. Main findings: The majority of patients diagnosed with VTE in the acute care setting are at low risk for an adverse event. ⋯ Many acute care clinicians remain wary of discharging patients with PE, concerned about drug access, adherence, and follow-up. Patients with VTE should be risk stratified identically as emerging evidence has demonstrated efficacy and safety in the interdependence of acute care protocols for the outpatient treatment of low-risk DVT and PE. Clinicians who practice in the acute care setting should be comfortable with risk stratification, anticoagulation, and discharge of low-risk VTE.