Description

Lim et al identified risk factors for failure of anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in a crtiically-ill patient in the intensive care unit (ICU). The authors are from multiple institutions in Canada, Australia, Brazil, London and Saudi Arabia.


Patient selection: ICU patient receiving anticoagulant thromboprophylaixs with unfractionated or low molecular weight (LMW) heparin

 

Outcome: venous thromboembolism and/or pulmonary embolism

 

Risk factors for failure of thromboprophylaxis:

(1) elevated body mass index (BMI)

(2) personal or family history of venous thromboembolism

(3) therapy with vasopressors or inotropes

(4) cancer

 

LMW heparin was superior to unfractionated heparin in prevention of venous thromboemboli and pulmonary emboli.


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