Risk Factors of Cook et al for Deep Vein Thrombosis in a Patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

 

Patient selection: adult medical or surgical patients expected to be in ICU >= 3 days. Note that the average APACHE II score for enrolled patients was 25.5 and almost 40% died in the hospital.

 

Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis found to be independent on multivariate analysis:

(1) personal or family history of venous thromboembolism

(2) chronic hemodialysis in end-stage renal failure

(3) platelet transfusion

(4) use of vasopressors

 

Deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities occurs in ICU patients despite thromboprophylaxis. Failure to give thromboprophylaxis would further increase the risk.

 

Monitoring of the patient should continue after discharge from the ICU.