Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Thermal Injury: A Review of Risk Assessment Tools and Current Knowledge on the Effectiveness and Risks of Mechanical and Chemical Prophylaxis

Christopher J Pannucci; Andrea T Obi; Benjamin H Timmins; Amalia L Cochran

doi:10.1016/j.cps.2017.02.002

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Thermal Injury: A Review of Risk Assessment Tools and Current Knowledge on the Effectiveness and Risks of Mechanical and Chemical Prophylaxis

Clin Plast Surg. 2017 Jul;44(3):573-581. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2017.02.002.

Authors

Christopher J Pannucci¹, Andrea T Obi², Benjamin H Timmins³, Amalia L Cochran⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East 3B400, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
³ Division of Plastic Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
⁴ Department of Surgery, University of Utah Burn Center, University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East 3B400, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.

PMID: 28576246
DOI: 10.1016/j.cps.2017.02.002

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can be a life-threatening or limb-threatening complication of thermal injury. The severity of burn injury can be used to predict VTE risk among patients with thermal injury, and a weighted risk-stratification tool has been developed. This article reviews the incidence, diagnosis, and management of thromboembolic events in patients with burns. The article particularly focuses on identifying those patients who are at highest risk for VTE and provides recommendations on mechanical and chemical prophylaxis.

Keywords: Deep venous thrombosis; Pulmonary embolus; VTE prophylaxis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Burns / complications*
Humans
Incidence
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Venous Thromboembolism / diagnosis
Venous Thromboembolism / epidemiology*
Venous Thromboembolism / prevention & control*