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Surveillance Ultrasound in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit: Time to Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis

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Abstract

Background/objectives

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are complications of hospitalization leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Routine surveillance ultrasound has become common practice in some intensive care units (ICU) to detect DVT early and initiate anticoagulation, preventing complications. However, initiating anticoagulants for asymptomatic DVT treatment may increase risk of hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to investigate the value of routine surveillance ultrasound in early DVT diagnosis in Neuro ICU patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with DVT during admission to the Neuro ICU at University Hospital from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017. Patients were identified through International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th Revision codes for DVT and PE, screened for inclusion criteria, and then classified as surveillance group or symptom-driven group based on intervention received. Primary outcome was time to DVT diagnosis. Secondary outcome included clinically significant hemorrhage identified by anticoagulation treatment discontinuation for suspected hemorrhage or new or expanding hemorrhage on head computerized tomography (CT).

Results

A total of 116 patients were identified, with 50 included: 27 were classified as surveillance and 23 as symptom-driven. Seven patients (surveillance = 3 and symptom-driven = 4) were diagnosed with only PE and were excluded from primary outcome. Median time to DVT diagnosis was similar at 148 h for surveillance versus 172 h for symptom driven (p = 0.2). There was no difference in treatment discontinuation rates (surveillance 21% vs symptom 31%; p = 0.4). Of the 27 patients with follow-up head CT, two in the surveillance group and two in the symptom-driven group showed a new or expanding hemorrhage.

Conclusion

Routine surveillance ultrasound did not lead to significantly earlier DVT diagnosis. Hemorrhagic events were not different between groups. Utility of surveillance ultrasound in this population should be evaluated in large, prospective trials before routine use can be recommended.

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Funding

The use of REDCap was supported by Grant No. UL1-RR024982 from the Clinical and Translational Sciences Awards Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), for data collection. This study was presented at Southwest Leadership Conference, Houston, Texas. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent official views of the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Kristi L. Hargrove, Colleen A. Barthol & Crystal Franco-Martinez

  2. College of Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy Division, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Kristi L. Hargrove, Colleen A. Barthol, Stefan Allen & Crystal Franco-Martinez

  3. Pharmacotherapy Education and Research Center, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Kristi L. Hargrove, Colleen A. Barthol, Stefan Allen & Crystal Franco-Martinez

Authors
  1. Kristi L. Hargrove
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  2. Colleen A. Barthol
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  3. Stefan Allen
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  4. Crystal Franco-Martinez
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Contributions

Dr. KLH was the primary investigator, corresponding author, involved in conceptualization and drafting of protocols for IRB approval, collected data, and drafted and revised the manuscript. Dr. CAB was a mentor, involved in conceptualization and drafting of protocols, and assisted in critical review of manuscript. Dr. SA analyzed the data and reviewed the manuscript. Dr. CF-M was a mentor, was involved in conceptualization and drafting of protocols, and assisted in critical review of manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristi L. Hargrove.

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Conflict of interest

The authors disclose no conflicts of interest and received no funding support.

Ethical Approval

The study was approved by both the University of Texas Health San Antonio Institutional Review Board (IRB protocol number HSC20170526H) and University Health System IRB.

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Hargrove, K.L., Barthol, C.A., Allen, S. et al. Surveillance Ultrasound in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit: Time to Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis. Neurocrit Care 30, 645–651 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-018-0652-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-018-0652-3

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