Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Effectiveness of Chemoprophylaxis.

OBJECTIVES: Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is associated with pulmonary embolism and other complications, but there are no recommendations for UEDVT prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to establish incidence and risk factors for UEDVT and to determine efficacy of pharmacologic prophylaxis for UEDVT prevention. METHODS: For this retrospective cohort study, we identified medical patients aged 18 years and older admitted to 13 Cleveland Clinic hospitals from January 2011 to December 2019. Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) on admission, length of stay <1 day, and who received therapeutic anticoagulation were excluded. The potential risk factors included demographics, comorbidities, and medical procedures. Comorbidities were identified via International Classification of Diseases codes, (ICD9 and ICD10), procedures from flowsheets, and prophylaxis from medications administered in the electronic medical record. DVT events were identified by a combination of International Classification of Diseases codes and confirmed by chart review. We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify independent risk factors and the association between VTE prophylaxis and UEDVT. The model's C statistic was obtained using 1000 bootstrap runs. RESULTS: Of 194,809 patients, 496 (0.25% of cohort, 36.8% of all VTE) developed UEDVT by 14 days. In the logistic regression model (bias-corrected C statistic 0.87), 11 risk factors predicted UEDVT, the strongest being peripherally inserted central catheter (odds ratio [OR] 4.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.81-5.60) and central venous catheter (OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.91-4.37). The predicted risk among individuals ranged from 0.02% to 23.4%. Prophylaxis was negatively associated with the development of UEDVT (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: UEDVT is rare but some patients are high risk. Therefore, UEDVT risk factors should be added to VTE risk assessment models, and patients at high risk for UEDVT should receive chemoprophylaxis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome, recurrent thromboembolism, and bleeding after upper extremity vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Data on complications after upper extremity vein thrombosis (UEVT) are limited and heterogeneous. METHODS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pooled proportions of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence, bleeding, and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in patients with UEVT. A systematic literature review was conducted of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases from January 2000 to April 2023 in accordance with the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines. All studies included patients with UEVT and were published in English. Meta-analyses of VTE recurrence, bleeding, and of PTS after UEVT were performed to compute pooled estimates and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses of cancer-associated UEVT and catheter-associated venous thrombosis were conducted. Patients with Paget-Schroetter syndrome or effort thrombosis were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 55 studies with 15,694 patients were included. The pooled proportions for VTE recurrence, major bleeding, and PTS were 4.8% (95% CI, 3.8%-6.2%), 3.0% (95% CI, 2.2%-4.0%), and 23.8% (95% CI, 17.0%-32.3%), respectively. The pooled proportion of VTE recurrence was 2.7% (95% CI, 1.6%-4.6%) for patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), 1.7% (95% CI, 0.8%-3.7%) for patients treated with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and 4.4% (95% CI, 1.5%-11.8%) for vitamin K antagonists (VKAs; P = .36). The pooled proportion was 6.3% (95% CI, 4.3%-9.1%) for cancer patients compared with 3.1% (95% CI, 2.1%-4.6%) for patients without cancer (P = .01). The pooled proportion of major bleeding for patients treated with DOACs, LMWH, and VKAs, was 2.1% (95% CI, 0.9%-5.1%), 3.2% (95% CI, 1.4%-7.2%), and 3.4% (95% CI, 1.4%-8.4%), respectively (P = .72). The pooled proportion of PTS for patients treated with DOACs, LMWH, and VKAs was 11.8% (95% CI, 6.5%-20.6%), 27.9% (95% CI, 20.9%-36.2%), and 24.5% (95% CI, 17.6%-33.1%), respectively (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study suggest that UEVT is associated with significant rates of PTS and VTE recurrence. Treatment with DOACs might be associated with lower PTS rates than treatment with other anticoagulants.

Upper extremity venous thrombosis in hospitalized patients: A prospective epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of upper extremities vein thrombosis (UEVT) is rising with the increasing use of endovenous devices. These thromboses are particularly common among hospitalized patients. The epidemiology and risk factors for UEVT are poorly understood in a hospitalized population. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of UEVT in hospitalized patients and study thrombosis risk factors according to their location. METHODS: Prospective evaluation of patients hospitalized in a university hospital with clinical and Doppler ultrasound (DUS) assessment of the upper extremities. RESULTS: Of the 400 patients included, 91(22.8 %) had UEVT including 8 (8.8 %) proximal thrombosis, 32 (35.2 %) arm venous thrombosis and 51 (56.0 %) forearm venous thrombosis; 7 (7.7 %) patients with UEVT had a concomitant symptomatic pulmonary embolism. In this population of hospitalized patients, 40 (10 %) had proximal or arm thrombosis and 51 (12.8 %) forearm thrombosis. All patients with UEVT had a venous catheter and 63 (69.2 %) of UEVT patients had therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation at the time of DUS evaluation. In multivariate analysis, peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) OR 3.71 [1.90; 7.91] (p < 0.001); MID line OR 3.58 [1.46; 8.91] (p = 0.005) and infection disease OR 2.21 [1.26; 4386] (p = 0.005) were associated with UEVT. Central venous catheter OR 66.24 [12.64; 587.03] was associated with proximal UEVT and MID line OR 12.61 [4.64; 35.77] (p < 0.001) with arm UEVT. Forearm UEVT were associated with PIVCOR 10.71[3.14; 67.37] (p = 0.001); infectious disease OR 2.87 [1.48; 5.60] (p = 0.002), iron infusion OR 3.11 [1.23; 7.47] and hospitalization for postpartum OR 4.37 [0.97; 18.06] (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: One in 5 hospitalized patients suffers from UEVT. Proximal venous thrombosis is uncommon. The presence of a catheter and hospitalization for infection are the factors most frequently associated with UEVT.

Daily point-of-care ultrasound-assessment of central venous catheter-related thrombosis in critically ill patients: a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Central venous catheter (CVC)-related thrombosis (CRT) is a known complication in critically ill patients. However, its clinical significance remains unclear. The objective of the study was to evaluate the occurrence and evolution of CRT from CVC insertion to removal. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was conducted in 28 intensive care units (ICUs). Duplex ultrasound was performed daily from CVC insertion until at least 3 days after CVC removal or before patient discharge from the ICU to detect CRT and to follow its progression. CRT diameter and length were measured and diameter > 7 mm was considered extensive. RESULTS: The study included 1262 patients. The incidence of CRT was 16.9% (95% confidence interval 14.8-18.9%). CRT was most commonly found in the internal jugular vein. The median time from CVC insertion to CRT onset was 4 (2-7) days, and 12% of CRTs occurred on the first day and 82% within 7 days of CVC insertion. CRT diameters > 5 mm and > 7 mm were found in 48% and 30% of thromboses. Over a 7-day follow-up, CRT diameter remained stable when the CVC was in place, whereas it gradually decreased after CVC removal. The ICU length of stay was longer in patients with CRT than in those without CRT, and the mortality was not different. CONCLUSION: CRT is a frequent complication. It can occur as soon as the CVC is placed and mostly during the first week following catheterization. Half of the thromboses are small but one-third are extensive. They are often non-progressive and may be resolved after CVC removal.

Idiopathic upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) management is controversial and ranges from anticoagulation alone to the addition of further interventions such as thrombolysis and decompressive surgery. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effects of anticoagulation alone compared to anticoagulation with additional interventions such as thrombolysis or decompressive surgery on the incidence of recurrent UEDVT and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in patients with idiopathic UEDVT (including those associated with the oral contraceptive pill). PATIENTS/METHODS: A systematic search was conducted for studies which focused on acute UEDVT treatment defined as therapies starting within 4 weeks of symptom onset. We limited studies to those that recruited 10 or more subjects and involved at least 6 weeks to 12 months anticoagulation alone or together with additional interventions with at least 6-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were symptomatic recurrent radiologically confirmed UEDVT and PTS. Secondary outcomes were symptomatic venous thromboembolism, bleeding and mortality. RESULTS: We found seven studies which reported recurrent UEDVT rates and five that reported PTS rates. All studies were retrospective or cross-sectional. None compared anticoagulation alone to anticoagulation with additional intervention. Study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis and risk of bias was moderate to serious. Recurrent UEDVT occurred in 0% to 12% post-anticoagulation alone and 0% to 23% post-additional interventions. PTS rates varied from 4% to 32% without severe PTS. Only limited studies reported on our secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: There is limited evidence behind idiopathic UEDVT management. Prospective comparative studies in this area are essential.

Duration of anticoagulation for upper extremity deep vein thrombosis associated with cancer and central venous catheter: Outcome of a cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: In cancer patients with catheter-associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis, 3 months of anticoagulation is recommended. The main objective of this study was to compare the incidence of thrombosis recurrence in these patients in case of continuation or discontinuation of anticoagulation, at the end of 3 months and after catheter has been removed. The secondary objectives were the incidence of major bleeding and death. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients with a cancer and a catheter-associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis. RESULTS: About 60 patients included, 44 stopped anticoagulation after the first 3 months and 16 continued it. The median time between catheter insertion and deep vein thrombosis was 26±83 days. Three recurrences occurred during the one-year follow-up: 2 in the group who stopped anticoagulation, with a cumulative incidence at 1 year of 4,8% (95%IC 1.2-18.1) and 1 in the group who continued anticoagulation, with a cumulative incidence at 1 year of 14.3% (95%IC 2.1-66.6). No major bleeding event occurred in anticoagulation discontinued group. The group who stopped anticoagulation was significantly associated with a lower risk of death (HR 0.21-95%IC 0.09-0.48, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The risk of recurrence in cancer patients with a catheter-associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis was low and statistically comparable between the group who stopped anticoagulation and the group who continued it. These results suggest that anticoagulation after the first 3 months deserves to be considered when catheter is removed.

Obesity increases the risk for upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients with upper extremity central venous catheters.

The morbidity and mortality of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remain a significant burden for the healthcare system. The aim of this analysis was to examine the association of upper extremity central venous catheter (UECVC) and venous thromboembolism (UEVTE) with increasing body mass index (BMI) in a large database study and to further examine disposition. Inpatient data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2017 to 2019 were used to investigate the effect of obesity on patients diagnosed with DVT of the upper extremity or pulmonary embolism (PE) who had upper extremity venous central line placement. There was a total of 1690 cases of UEVTE and 3202 cases of PE within the sample. There was an increasing odds of UEVTE in the patients with UECVCs with increasing BMI. Patients with a BMI of 30-39, 40-49 and > 50 kg/m2 were significantly different than those with BMI of <19 and 20-29 kg/m2 in the UECVC group for UEVTE. This study demonstrated increased odds of UEVTE for patients with increased BMI. Practitioners should assume a greater risk for UEVTE and PE in patients with increased BMI when considering CVCs.

Incidence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in the retrosternal reconstruction after esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is relatively rare but cannot be negligible because it can cause fatal complications. Although it is reported that the occurrence rate of UEDVT has increased due to central venous catheter (CVC), cancer, and surgical invasion, there is still limited information for esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical factors, including CVC placement and thromboprophylaxis approach, as well as retrosternal space's width as a predictive factor for UEDVT in patients receiving esophagectomy. METHODS: This study included 66 patients who underwent esophagectomy with retrosternal reconstruction using a gastric tube. All patients routinely underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) on the 4th postoperative day. Low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) was routinely administered by the 2nd postoperative day. To evaluate retrosternal space's width, (a) The distance from sternum to brachiocephalic artery and (b) the distance from sternum to vertebra were measured by preoperative CT, and the ratio of (a) to (b) was defined as the width of retrosternal space. RESULTS: Among all patients, 11 (16.7%) suffered from UEDVT, and none was preoperatively received CVC placement, while 7 were inserted in non-UEDVT cases. Retrosternal space's width in patients with UEDVT was significantly smaller than that in patients without UEDVT (0.17 vs. 0.26; P < 0.0001). A cutoff value of the width was 0.21, which has high sensitivity (87%) and specificity (82%) for UEDVT prediction, respectively. CONCLUSION: The existence of CVC may not affect the development of UEDVT, but preoperative evaluation of retrosternal ratio may predict the occurrence of UEDVT.

Upper Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis Risk Factors, Associated Morbidity and Mortality in Trauma Patients.

BACKGROUND: The literature on upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) is not as abundant as that on lower extremities. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for UEDVT, associated mortality and morbidity in trauma patients and the impact of pharmacological prophylaxis therein. METHODS: A 3-year retrospective review of patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center was conducted. Patients aged 18 years or older who had experienced a traumatic event and had undergone an upper extremity ultrasound (UEUS) were included in the study. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors that contributed to UEDVT. RESULTS: A total of 6,607 patients were admitted due to traumatic injuries during the study period, of whom 5.6% (373) had at least one UEUS during their hospitalization. Fifty-six (15%) were diagnosed with an UEDVT, as well as three non-fatal pulmonary emboli (PE) and four (7.1%) deaths, p = 0.03. Pharmacological prophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) or unfractionated heparin showed a protective effect against UEDVT; among the patients positive for UEDVT, 14 of 186 patients (7.5%) received LMWH, while 42 of 195 (21.5%) did not receive LMWH (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression revealed that the presence of upper extremity fractures, peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) were independent risk factors for UEDVT. CONCLUSIONS: UEDVT are associated with a higher mortality. The presence of upper extremity fractures, PICC lines, and TBI were independent risk factors for UEDVTs. Further, pharmacological prophylaxis reduces the risk of UEDVT.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in COVID-19: Incidence and correlated risk factors in a cohort of non-ICU patients.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism is a frequent complication of COVID-19 infection. Less than 50% of pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with the evidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities. DVT may also occur in the venous system of the upper limbs especially if provoking conditions are present such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of UEDVT in patients affected by moderate-severe COVID-19 infection and to identify potential associated risk factors for its occurrence. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients affected by moderate-severe COVID-19 infection admitted to our unit. In accordance with the local protocol, all patients had undergone a systematic screening for the diagnosis of UEDVT, by vein compression ultrasonography (CUS). All the patients were receiving pharmacological thromboprophylaxis according to international guidelines recommendations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with UEDVT. RESULTS: 257 patients were included in the study, 28 patients were affected by UEDVT with an incidence of 10.9% (95% CI, 7.1-14.7). At univariate analysis UEDVT appeared to be significantly associated (p< 0.05) with pneumonia, ARDS, PaO2/FiO2, D-dimer value higher than the age adjusted cut off value and need for CPAP ventilation. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between UEDVT and the need for CPAP ventilation (OR 5.95; 95% IC 1.33-26.58). Increased mortality was found in patients affected by UEDVT compared to those who were not (OR 3.71; 95% CI, 1.41-9.78). CONCLUSIONS: UEDVT can occur in COVID-19 patients despite adequate prophylaxis especially in patients undergoing helmet CPAP ventilation. Further studies are needed to identify the correct strategy to prevent DVT in these patients.

Validation of Michigan risk score and D-dimer to predict peripherally inserted central catheter-related thrombosis: A study of 206,132 catheter days.

BACKGROUND: The Michigan Risk Score (MRS) was the only predicted score for peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) associated upper extremity venous thrombosis (UEVT). Age-adjusted D-dimer increased the efficiency for UEVT. There were no external validations in an independent cohort. METHOD: A retrospective study of adult patients with PICC insertion was performed. The primary objective was to evaluate the performance of the MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer in estimating risk of PICC-related symptomatic UEVT. The sensitivity, specificity and areas under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) of MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer were calculated. RESULTS: Two thousand one hundred sixty-three patients were included for a total of 206,132 catheter days. Fifty-six (2.6%) developed PICC-UEVT. The incidences of PICC-UEVT were 4.9% for class I, 7.5% for class II, 2.2% for class III, 0% for class IV of MRS (p = 0.011). The incidences of PICC-UEVT were 4.5% for D-dimer above the age-adjusted threshold and 1.5% for below the threshold (p = 0.001). The areas under ROC of MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer were 0.405 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.303-0.508) and 0.639 (95% CI 0.547-0.731). The sensitivity and specificity of MRS were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69-0.91), 0.09 (95% CI, 0.08-0.11), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of age-adjusted D-dimer were 0.64 (95% CI, 0.46-0.79) and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.61-0.66), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MRS and age-adjusted D-dimer have low accuracy to predict PICC-UEVT. Further studies are needed.

Upper extremity deep venous thrombosis prevalence in the NHS Grampian Medical Ambulatory clinic: diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic considerations in oncology patients.

INTRODUCTION: Whilst upper extremity deep vein thromboses (UEDVT) account for approximately 5 to 10% of all cases of DVT, rigorous guidelines regarding diagnosis and management of presenting patients remain to be developed. The association of UEDVT with concurrent asymptomatic pulmonary embolism as well as the first presentation of malignancy deems essential rigorous research and clinical guideline development to ensure optimal patient care. METHODS: This retrospective audit study is the first to provide estimates of UEDVT prevalence in the North-East Deanery main hospital centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI). RESULTS: Of the 605 patients attending the ARI Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) clinic with clinical suspicion of UEDVT, 38 (6.2%) had a confirmatory diagnosis. Underlying malignancy, presence of PICC line, and cardiovascular co-morbidities were identified as common confounding factors. Subclavian vein with concurrent extension to primarily the cephalic vein thrombosis was identified as the most commonly thrombosed venous territories. Importantly, oncology patients were found to have poorer survival outcomes following an UEDVT, in comparison to patients with other significant co-morbidities (cardiovascular, chronic renal disease, inflammatory bowel disease): HR 5.814 (95%CI 1.15, 29.25), p 0.012. Lastly, genetic associations were drawn between patient genetic status as tested for other co-morbidities and prothrombotic cellular cascades, suggesting rigorous VTE assessment in patients identified with congenital or acquired mutations, namely, in CALR, JAK, MSH 2/6, MYC, and FXN. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study offers the first report of UEDVT presentations in the UK with no restrictions of patient performance status or underlying co-morbidities and provides a rounded clinical picture of patient characteristics, diagnosis, management, and prognostic associations in view of rigorous guideline development.

Development of a risk score to predict peripherally inserted central catheter thrombosis in active cancer.

BACKGROUND: Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) thrombosis is common. AIMS: To explore the prevalence of symptomatic PICC thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE)/deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in cancer and non-cancer cohorts. In active cancer, we assessed the Khorana risk score (KRS) and Michigan risk score (MRS) for predicting PICC thrombosis and modifications to improve discriminative accuracy. METHODS: We reviewed consecutive cancer patients receiving chemotherapy through a PICC inserted April 2017 to July 2018. For each case, we identified a contemporaneous non-cancer control. RESULTS: Among 147 cancer patients, median age 64 years, PICC duration 70 days (range, 2-452), 7% developed PICC thrombosis (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6-12.2) and 4% (95% CI 2-9) PE/DVT. Among 147 controls, median age 68 years, PICC duration 18.3 days (range, 0.5-210), 0.7% (95% CI 0-4) developed PICC thrombosis and 2% (95% CI 0.4-6) PE/DVT. In our cancer cohort, no KRS < 1 patients developed PICC thrombosis (95% CI 0-11) compared with 9% (95% CI 5-16) in KRS ≥ 1 (P = 0.12). PICC thrombosis occurred in 4.7% (95% CI 1.5-11.7) MRS ≤ 3 compared with 10.9% (95% CI 4.1-22.2) MRS > 3 (P = 0.32). The addition of thrombocytosis, a variable from KRS, to MRS (modified MRS (mMRS)) improved discriminative value for PICC thrombosis (c-statistic MRS 0.63 (95% CI 0.44-0.82), mMRS 0.72 (95% CI 0.58-0.85)). PICC thrombosis occurred in 1.4% (95% CI 0-8.3) mMRS ≤ 3 and 11.8% (95% CI 6.1-21.2) mMRS > 3 (P = 0.02). More patients were categorised as low risk using mMRS ≤ 3 (47%) than KRS < 1 (22%). CONCLUSION: Cancer patients had longer PICC durations and higher PICC thrombosis rates than those without (7% vs 0.7%). mMRS more accurately classified low PICC thrombosis risk than KRS <1(47% vs 22%). Prospective validation of mMRS is warranted.

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with upper extremity deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: Upper extremity (UE) deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common and increasing complication in hospitalized patients. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence, treatment strategies, complications, and outcomes of UE-DVT. METHODS: We performed a retrospective single-institution study of patients with a diagnosis of UE-DVT from January 2016 through February 2018 (26 months). Patients aged ≥18 years who had been admitted to the hospital and who had had positive UE duplex ultrasound findings for acute UE-DVT were included in the present study. The outcomes were in-hospital mortality, major bleeding, pulmonary embolism (PE), and recurrent UE-DVT. RESULTS: Among 63,045 patients admitted to the hospital, 1000 (1.6%) had been diagnosed with UE-DVT. Of 3695 UE venous duplex ultrasound examinations performed during the study period, almost one third (27.0%) were positive for acute UE-DVT. The mean age was 55.0 ± 17.2 years, and most patients were men (58.3%), white (49.2%), and overweight (mean body mass index, 29.4 ± 10.3 kg/m2). The most affected vein was the right internal jugular vein (54.8%). Most of the patients (96.9%) has been receiving venous thromboembolism prophylaxis or anticoagulation therapy at the diagnosis. Most patients (77.8%) had had an intravenous device (IVD) in place at the diagnosis. Most of the patients (84.4%) were treated with anticoagulation therapy in the hospital but only one half (54.5%) were discharged with anticoagulation therapy. In-hospital mortality was 12.1% unrelated to UE-DVT, major bleeding occurred in 47.6% of the patients during hospitalization (fatal bleeding, 1%), PE was diagnosed in 4.8% of the patients, and 0.7% were fatal. Recurrent UE-DVT occurred in 6.1% of the patients. On multivariable analysis, the risk of death was increased by older age, cancer, intensive care unit admission, concomitant lower extremity DVT, and bleeding before the UE-DVT diagnosis. The presence of an IVD increased the risk of PE and the risk of recurrent UE-DVT. The risk of major bleeding was increased by the presence of an IVD, female sex, and concomitant lower extremity DVT. CONCLUSIONS: UE-DVT is a common complication in hospitalized patients (1.6%). Consequent acute PE and recurrent DVT remain important complications, as does bleeding. It is unclear whether standard thromboprophylaxis effectively protects against UE-DVT. More studies dedicated to UE-DVT are required to provide appropriate guidance on prophylaxis and treatment.

A retrospective cohort study of disease-related risk factors for central venous catheter-related symptomatic thrombosis in intensive care unit inpatients.

ABSTRACT: Central venous catheters (CVC) are widely used in critically ill patients given their benefits in monitoring vital signs, treatment administration, and renal replacement therapy in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but these catheters have the potential to induce symptomatic catheter-related venous thrombosis (CRVT). This study reported the rate of symptomatic CRVT in ICU patients receiving CVC and analyzed the disease-related risk factors for symptomatic CRVT in ICU patients.A retrospective analysis was performed on the consecutive ICU 1643 critically ill patients with CVCs inserted from January 2015 to December 2019. Symptomatic CRVT was confirmed by ultrasound. CVCs were divided into 2 groups based on the presence of symptomatic CRVT, and the variables were extracted from the electronic medical record system. Logistic univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the disease-related risk factors of symptomatic CRVT.A total of 209 symptomatic CRVT events occurred among 2114 catheters. The rate of CRVT was 9.5 per 1000 catheter days. Univariate analysis revealed that trauma, major surgery, heart failure, respiratory failure, and severe acute pancreatitis were risk factors for symptomatic CRVT in the ICU. Multivariate analysis showed that trauma (odds ratio [OR], 2.046; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.325-3.160], P = .001), major surgery (OR, 2.457; 95% CI [1.641-3.679], P = .000), and heart failure (OR, 2.087; 95% CI [1.401-3.111], P = .000) were independent disease-related risk factors for symptomatic CRVT in ICU. The C-statistic for this model was 0.61 (95% CI [0.57-0.65], P = .000).The incidence rate of symptomatic CRVT in the ICU population was 9.5 per 1000 catheter days. Trauma, major surgery, and heart failure are independent disease-related risk factors of symptomatic CRVT.

Management of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: an updated review of the literature.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) represents about 5-10% of all cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with a steadily increasing incidence mostly due to the high prevalence of cancer and frequent use of intravascular devices such as central venous catheters and pacemaker. In primary UEDVT, the venous outflow obstruction and subsequent thrombosis are related to congenital or acquired anatomical abnormalities, whereas secondary UEDVT is often associated with malignancy or indwelling lines. A considerable proportion of patients with UEDVT develops serious complications such as recurrent thrombosis, post-thrombotic syndrome, and pulmonary embolism, therefore timely diagnosis and adequate treatment are of crucial importance. Despite sharing many similarities with lower extremity DVT, UEDVT has distinctive features requiring specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The present review discusses the latest evidence on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of UEDVT, and provides management indications which may help guide clinical decision making.

Long-term outcome after nonsurgical management of Paget-Schroetter syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Paget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS) is an uncommon disease with potentially debilitating long-term effects. The optimal therapy for PSS is unclear, and the role of surgical decompression of the thoracic outlet is still being questioned. In this study, we present long-term results of patients treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and anticoagulation without surgical management. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series of all patients who previously underwent treatment of PSS in our institution between the years 2007 and 2019. Patients were evaluated for clinical signs of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) using a modified Villalta scoring scale, including measurements of the circumference of the treated and untreated arms. Duplex ultrasound examination of the treated vein was performed, and quality of life was evaluated using the shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighteen consecutive patients previously treated for PSS with CDT and anticoagulation compose the cohort of this study. None underwent surgical thoracic outlet decompression. All were contacted and invited for clinical and ultrasound evaluation. Follow-up was available for all patients. Mean age at diagnosis was 29 years (range, 16-46 years), and 15 (79%) were male. Mean time from the index event to the follow-up clinic visit was 109 months (range, 37-176 months). Patients were treated with anticoagulation for a mean period of 26 months (range, 6-120 months). Seventeen patients (94%) had a Villalta score of 0 to 3, consistent with nonexistence of PTS. Fourteen patients (78%) were completely asymptomatic. Seven patients (39%) had no difference in arm circumference. A difference in arm circumference between the treated arm and the healthy arm of 1 cm and 2 cm was seen in nine (50%) and two (11%) patients, respectively. Based on the shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, none of the patients suffered from impaired quality of life. Duplex ultrasound scanning of the affected veins was performed on 16 of the 18 patients (89%). The vein appeared patent in all examined patients. In three patients, the wall of the examined vein was thickened and irregular. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that PSS patients can be treated with anticoagulation and CDT alone, without the need for surgical thoracic outlet decompression. This is based on long-term follow-up of these patients objectively evaluated by means of valid scoring systems. These findings suggest that symptoms or signs of PTS rarely develop, the patients do not suffer from impaired quality of life, and patency of the diseased vein is commonly maintained.

Risk Factors for Central Venous Access Device-Related Thrombosis in Hospitalized Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the potential associations of patient-, treatment-, and central venous access device (CVAD)-related factors with the CVAD-related thrombosis (CRT) risk in hospitalized children. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP database was conducted. RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 statistical software were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: In terms of patient-related factors, the patient history of thrombosis (odds ratio [OR] = 3.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.57-5.85), gastrointestinal/liver disease (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 0.99-3.46), hematologic disease (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.06-1.99), and cancer (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.01-2.48) were correlated with an increased risk of CRT. In terms of treatment-related factors, parenteral nutrition (PN)/total PN (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.21-2.39), hemodialysis (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.34-3.51), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.31-1.71), and cardiac catheterization (OR = 3.92, 95% CI: 1.06-14.44) were associated with an increased CRT risk, while antibiotics (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.32-0.68) was associated with a reduced CRT risk. In terms of the CVAD-related factors, CRT risk was more significantly increased by peripherally inserted central catheter than tunneled lines (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.15-2.85) or totally implantable venous access port (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.41-5.60). And subclavian vein catheterization significantly contributed to a lower CRT risk than femoral vein catheterization (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14-0.88). Besides, multiple catheter lines (OR = 4.06, 95% CI: 3.01-5.47), multiple catheter lumens (OR = 3.71, 95% CI: 1.99-6.92), central line-associated bloodstream infection (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.15-6.16), and catheter malfunction (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.07-2.54) were associated with an increased CRT risk. CONCLUSION: The exact identification of the effect of risk factors can boost the development of risk assessment tools with stratifying risks.

Management of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in Occitanie: practice assessment.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is increasing. Its management is sometimes complex and difficult due to its complications and the lack of strong recommendations. The aim was to describe the practice of vascular physicians in Occitanie region in the management of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used a descriptive observational study in the form of a declarative survey by means of a questionnaire from April to May 2019 among vascular physicians. RESULTS: Of the 142 physicians contacted, 84 responded, with a reply rate of 59.1%. The majority of physicians introduced low-molecular-weight heparin treatment (60.71%) and 29.76% direct oral anticoagulation after a diagnosis of UEDVT. Three months of anticoagulation was chosen by 69% of physicians against 27.4% for a duration of 6 months. Diagnostic work-up included biological risk factors, chest and/or cervical radiography and ultrasonography with dynamic maneuvers. Three quarters of doctors recommended venous compression. A control ultrasonography was performed for 67.86% of patients at one month and at the end of treatment. After the acute phase, 63% of physicians introduced direct oral anticoagulation and 11% recommended venous revascularization. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The mobilization of vascular physicians reflects their interest for this pathology. The management of UEDVT requires specific studies to address therapeutic modalities, the duration of anticoagulation or the place of venous compression in the acute phase.

Paget-Schroetter syndrome in athletes: a comprehensive and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Paget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS) is a rare condition of axillosubclavian vein thrombosis often seen in athletes with a history of repetitive external rotation and abduction of the shoulder. The purpose of this review was to analyze the literature and characterize PSS in the athletic population, including risk of PSS by sport. We also provide a comprehensive review of PSS to inform clinicians on the pathophysiology, detection, and management of the condition. METHODS: Four databases were reviewed to identify cases of PSS occurring in athletes. Data on patient demographics, reported sport, diagnosis, treatment, management, return to sport, and complications were extracted and analyzed by 2 independent reviewers. RESULTS: Of the 123 cases of PSS identified, baseball and weight lifting had the highest incidence (26.8% and 19%, respectively), followed by swimming, football, and basketball. The average return to sport was 4.7 months, and 26.7% of subjects reported complications, most commonly pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: In athletes presenting with upper extremity pain and swelling with a history of playing baseball or weight lifting, PSS should be higher on a clinicians differential diagnosis list. Swimmers, football, and basketball players are less likely to present with PSS but are still more likely than other types of athletes to develop the condition. Clinician awareness of PSS in athletes is critical to avoid delays in treatment and misdiagnosis, and to allow for a timely return to sport with minimal complications.