Episode 6 – ACCP Antithrombotics and VTE Guidelines - a podcast by Scott D. Weingart, MD FCCM
from 2012-09-07T06:47:16
From American College of Chest Physicians
Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed Guidelines
Chest 2012;141:7S-47S (Executive Summary)
For outpatient treatment, start 10 mg daily for the first 2 days followed by INR measurements
Give 1 day of LMWH or UFH before initiation, if treating VTE
If the patient is on VKAs, avoid NSAIDs and certain ABX (table 8 from full guidelines)
Avoid anti-plt agents unless clinical condition warrants
Normal goal is 2-3, including antiphospholipid
No need to taper when d/cing
Heparin – 80/18 for VTE, 70/15 for cardiac or stroke patients
For outpatients with VTE treated with SC UFH, they suggest weight-adjusted dosing (first dose 333 units/kg, then 250 units/kg) without monitoring rather than fixed or weight-adjusted dosing with monitoring
High INRs
4.5-10, no bleeding: no vitamin K necessary
> 10, no bleeding: Oral Vitamin K
If anticoagulant related major bleeding: 4-factor PCC and Vitamin K Slow IV Injection
See Michelle Lin’s Paucis Verbis on the same
Critically Ill Patients
Recommend against routine screening
Use LMWH or LDUH in all patients unless contra-indicated
For travelers at risk of VTE, use graded compression stockings; do not prescribe aspirin or anticoagulants
Diagnosis of DVT
Low Risk
moderate sens d-dimer, high sens d-dimer, or CUS of proximal veins only. D-dimers are preferred
If d-dimer is positive, get Compression Ultrasound (CUS) of proximal veins
Moderate Risk
Use High sens d-dimer, CUS of prox, or CUS of whole leg
Can stop if high-sens D-dimer is negative
If no d-dimer or d-dimer postive, need a second CUS 1 week later if only prox CUS done
If whole leg CUS is negative, you are done
High Risk
Prox CUS or Whole Leg CUS
If prox CUS and d-dimer negative as well, done
If d-dimer positive or only prox CUS, get 1 week f/u CUS
If whole leg CUS is negative, you are done
Recurrent
In patients with past DVT, recommend high-sens d-dimer, if positive get Prox CUS and 1 week Prox CUS
If negative, get just one Prox CUS
If the old CUS is not available, confirm with venography if positive CUS
Upper Ext
Go right to Doppler CUS for upper extremity dvt suspicion
Treatment of DVT
Start with IV or SQ UFH, LMWH, or fondaparinux (Latter two preferred)
If high pretest, start heparin immediately; If moderate, start heparin only if diagnostic tests are expected to be > 4 hours delayed
Isolated distal DVT-serial CUS rather than treatment unless severe symptoms or risk factors for extension (see full text)
Ambulate DVTs, no bed rest
In patients with hypotension (SBP) < 90 and PE, give systemic thrombolytics (through peripheral, rather than PA cath)
Atrial Fib
Chads 0 – nothing
Chads 1/2 – VKA/oral anti-coag; Dabi is preferred
If a-fib > 48 hours; give 3 weeks of VKA/dabi before cardioversion. Or get TEE with LMWH. Follow with 1 month of Vka/oral anti-coag
If a-fib < 48 hours; Start LMWH and then VKA for 4 weeks
If hemodynamically unstable, treat with anticoagulation ASAP preferably before cardioversion and then continue for 4 weeks
Treat a-flutter like a-fib for all of the above
Stroke
If hemorrhagic,
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