Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis In Trauma Patients: Practice Gap...
Pediatric surgeons historically did not routinely address VTE prophylaxis, with general teaching some time ago being that kids just didn't get this problem.
opinionTodd Ponsky0:31 ↗
Recognition of pediatric VTE has increased significantly over the last 10-20 years, possibly to the point of overuse (e.g., SCDs for 30-minute inguinal hernia repairs).
opinionTodd Ponsky0:31 ↗
The Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium is conducting a multi-center study (at 11 centers) of a standardized VTE prophylaxis protocol involving chemoprophylaxis with antithrombin 1A, compression devices, and daily ultrasound evaluation.
clinical2:55 ↗
The number of DVT complications in pediatric patients is very small but catastrophic when they occur.
epidemiological2:55 ↗
The vast majority of pediatric DVTs occur around central lines, and all central lines have a fibrin sheath if examined closely.
clinical3:56 ↗
The theoretically correct answer for the case is screening ultrasound on ICU day 7, because pharmacologic prophylaxis is contraindicated due to significant head bleed.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
A 2017 seminars summary by Dr. Perry (current chair of the Abstinence trauma Committee) provides a comprehensive review of pediatric VTE prophylaxis in trauma.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
VTE incidence in pediatric trauma patients is estimated between 0.16% and 1%, probably on the order of 1% or less in general.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
In adult trauma patients, VTE incidence is about 3-5%.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
In adult neuro trauma patients, VTE incidence is significantly higher at 10-15%.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
Pediatric VTE risk factors include central catheters, inflammatory bowel disease (chronic inflammatory states), blood transfusion, and obesity.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
According to the Landish schema, high-risk patients are defined as those greater than 12 years with one or more risk factors, or less than 12 years with more than 4 risk factors.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
For high-risk patients without bleeding concerns, treatment is low molecular weight heparin plus SCDs until ambulatory.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
For high-risk patients who are not candidates for pharmacologic prophylaxis, treatment is SCDs until ambulatory plus screening ultrasound on day 7.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position4:37 ↗
SCDs should be activated prior to induction of anesthesia in the operating room.
guideline8:30 ↗
The Landish article (David Gourlay's article) is probably the best protocol available for pediatric VTE prophylaxis and forms the basis for the MWPSC multi-center study.
opinion10:00 ↗
Pediatric Vascular Access
In micro-preemies (1000g to 2kg), a 3-French soft silastic catheter is preferred because larger catheters as big as the vessel can cause vessel thrombosis.
clinicalMark Wulkan1:30 ↗
Needle-hole venotomy technique: isolate the internal jugular vein, make a needle hole with the kit needle, and slide the pre-tunneled catheter into that hole without ligating the vein, preserving it for future access.
clinicalMark Wulkan2:33 ↗
Beveling the catheter end is associated with slightly more catheter thrombosis than cutting straight across, but may be worth it to preserve the vein in micro-preemies.
clinicalMark Wulkan3:23 ↗
The atrial-caval junction is actually much deeper on chest X-ray than most surgeons think, not at the visible indentation where the silhouette widens.
Host summaryMark Wulkan summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position9:13 ↗
A 2013 JACS study by Sanj Dutta, Sean St. Peter and others showed ultrasound guidance achieved first-stick success in 65% of patients versus 45% with landmark technique, and 95% success by three attempts versus 74%.
Host summaryMark Wulkan summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position10:25 ↗
In the adult literature, the number of needle sticks is a good proxy marker for the risk of complications.
Host summaryMark Wulkan summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position11:25 ↗
Subcutaneous ports (port-a-cath, meta-port) are used for most intermittent chemotherapy; cuffed lines (Broviac) are used for highly toxic agents like Adriamycin that cause tissue necrosis if infiltrated.
guidelineMark Wulkan13:36 ↗
Bone marrow transplant patients often require three lumens: a double-lumen perm-cath plus a single-lumen line.
clinicalMark Wulkan14:32 ↗
The smallest mini-port available is 5-French and can be placed in a 7-8 kg infant, though it requires special order.
clinicalMark Wulkan14:57 ↗
MRV is the gold standard for pre-operative vascular imaging in patients with multiple prior lines or history of DVT.
guidelineMark Wulkan15:34 ↗
A glide wire can sometimes pass through venous thrombosis when a standard wire cannot, finding a channel through the clot.
clinicalMark Wulkan17:53 ↗
Femoral lines in babies often result in leg swelling and DVT, so they are avoided in that population.
clinicalMark Wulkan22:03 ↗
Institutional heparin lock protocol: 10 units/mL for accessed lines (ports or cuffed lines), 100 units/mL for buried ports, and 1000 units/mL for dialysis catheters (which is withdrawn before use).
guidelineMark Wulkan24:40 ↗
Ethanol lock therapy has substantially decreased line removal rates and has very high success rates for treating line infections.
clinicalTodd Ponsky25:31 ↗