Screening for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Intensive Care

Summary

Background: venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in critically ill patients, admitted to the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). At the present time, there is no validated score to estimate risks and benefits of antithrombotic pharmacological prophylaxis in this subset of patients. Results of a pilot study showed that ultrasound (US) screening for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is associated with a reduced incidence of proximal DVT, up front to an overall increased discovery rate of DVTs. The reduced incidence of proximal DVT could be attributed to an early diagnosis of distal and muscular DVTs, which would eventually receive a more adequate management. Proximal DVTs are associated with a worse long-term prognosis than distal or muscular DVTs, so it can be hypothesized that the active US screening could lead to an improvement of in-hospital and long-term prognosis of patients admitted to the ICU.

Aim of the study: to test whether an active US screening may reduce the incidence of proximal DVT and improve the in-hospital and long-term prognosis of patients admitted to the ICU.

Expected relevance: systematic screening for DVT could improve the management of the pharmacological antithrombotic treatment, leading to a reduction of thromboembolic and bleeding complications. This will eventually lead to an improved in-hospital and long-term prognosis.

Conditions

• Deep Vein Thrombosis

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Ultrasound screening for lower limbs DVT

Using a linear ultrasound probe (7.5-12 MHz) a compression ultrasound of the lower limbs is performed, from the hip to the ankle. The exam is completed by the use of Doppler.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Standard-of-care

Ultrasound examination of lower limbs is performed according to clinical risk of DVT

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Azienda Ospedaliera di Perugia

  collaborator OTHER

• Azienda Ospedaliera di Terni

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Azienda Sanitaria Locale N.1 dell'Umbria

  collaborator OTHER

• USL Umbria 2

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University Of Perugia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Leonella Pasqualini, MD · University Of Perugia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-11-01

Primary Completion

2024-10-31

Completion

2024-12-31

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations