Oral thromboprophylaxis in pelvic trauma: a standardized protocol.

TitleOral thromboprophylaxis in pelvic trauma: a standardized protocol.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsMonzón DGodoy, Iserson KV, Cid A, Vazquez JA
JournalJ Emerg Med
Volume43
Issue4
Pagination612-7
Date Published2012 Oct
ISSN Number0736-4679
KeywordsAdult, Aged, Anticoagulants, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Fractures, Bone, Glasgow Coma Scale, Humans, Injury Severity Score, Lower Extremity, Male, Middle Aged, Morpholines, Pelvic Bones, Pulmonary Embolism, Thiophenes, Time Factors, Venous Thrombosis, Young Adult
Abstract

<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Thromboprophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after lower-extremity trauma could include rivaroxaban, an oral medication that does not need laboratory monitoring.</p>
<p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>To assess rivaroxaban's efficacy in preventing DVTs after pelvic trauma compared to its historical incidence.</p>
<p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS: </b>All patients admitted with pelvic fractures in a 12-month period followed a standardized thromboprophylaxis protocol: 1) rivaroxaban 10 mg/day within 24 h of injury or upon hemodynamic stability; 2) pre-operative, post-operative, and 30-day extremity ultrasound; 3) ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy for clinical signs of pulmonary embolus; and 4) a 45-, 90-, and 120-day re-evaluation. Rivaroxaban administration ceased the day of surgery and restarted 12 h post-operatively or upon hemodynamic stability, continuing for 30 days. Excluded patients had severe neurological or hepatosplenic injuries, heparin hypersensitivity, or hemodynamic instability.</p>
<p><b>RESULTS: </b>Of 113 patients assessed, 84 patients (66 males), average age 46.6 years (range 19-69 years), were included. They had isolated pelvic trauma (n&nbsp;= 37), associated lower limb injuries (n = 47), average Injury Severity Score 21.4 (range 16-50), and average Glasgow Coma Scale score 13.6 (range 9-15). Patients receiving thromboprophylaxis soon after their fracture (n&nbsp;= 64) had a lower incidence of DVT than those receiving delayed thromboprophylaxis (n = 20) (p = 0.02). One patient (1.2%) died from a pulmonary embolus; 13 had asymptomatic below-the-knee DVTs. Rivaroxaban did not increase intra- or post-operative bleeding in surgical wounds.</p>
<p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>DVT incidence after pelvic fractures is reduced by administering antithrombotics within 24 h of injury or, if the patient is hemodynamically unstable, 24 h after stabilization. Rivaroxaban is a safe and effective method of providing this thromboprophylaxis.</p>

DOI10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.09.006
Alternate JournalJ Emerg Med
PubMed ID22244290
Faculty Reference: 
Kenneth V. Iserson, MD, MBA, FACEP
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