Systematic Screening for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Critically Ill Patients

Potential Harms and Benefits of Systematic Screening for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Critically Ill Patients

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.

Aim of the study: investigating potential harms and benefits of a protocol for systematic screening of DVT in critically ill patients, admitted to an ICU.

Expected relevance: systematic screening for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) through ultrasound (US) lower limb veins examination could help defining the indication to antithrombotic pharmacological treatment, but no protocol of systematic screening has been validated so far. Furthermore, the screening could be associated with over-diagnosis and consequent over-treatment, as well as increased management burden for the caregivers and higher healthcare costs.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >18 years old
• Admission to the ICU

Exclusion Criteria:

• duration of stay in ICU <5 days
• SARS-CoV-2 infection
• established DVT or pulmonary embolism at admission
• established coagulation disorder
• presence of inferior vena cava filter at the admission
• admission/discharge to the ICU of another hospital